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BEFORE  THE  UNITED  STATES  RAILWAY  LABOR  BOARD.  1920 


^^ 


,V 


Studies  of  the 

Cost  of  Maintaining  a  Family 

at  a  Level  of  Health  and 

Reasonable  Comfort 


PRESENTED  BY 

W.  JETT  LAUCK 

ON   BEHALF  OF 


OFTHE 
OF 


W.  S.  STONE, 
jOrand  Chief  Engineer.  Brotherhood  of  Locomo- 
tive Engineers. 

L.  E.   SHEPPARD. 
President,  Order  of  Uailroad  Conductors. 

S.  E.   HEBERLIXG. 
[President.  Switchmen's  Union  of  North  America. 

LOUIS  WEYAND. 

|Actiiig  International  President.  International 
i'.rotherhooil  of  lioilerniakers.  Iron  Ship- 
builders and  Helpers  of  America. 

J.  .1.  HYNES, 
[Liicrnational     President.     Amalgamated     Sheet- 
.Metal  Worljers"  International  Alliance. 

J.  P.  NOONAN, 
lluternational   President.    International   Brother- 
hood of  Biectrical  Workers. 

TIMOTHY  SHEA. 

{Assistant  President.  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 

Firemen    and   Engiuemen. 

W.  G.  LEE, 
President,  Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen. 

WM.  H.  JOHNSTON. 
Ilnternational    President.    International   Associa- 
tion of  Machinists. 


J.  W.  KLINE. 

General    President.     International    Brotherhood 

of  Blacksmiths,  Drop  Forgers  and  Helpers. 

MARTIN  F.  RYAN, 
General    President.    Brotherhood    Railway    Car- 
men of  America. 

E.  J.  MANION, 
President,  Order  of  Railroad  Telegraphers. 

F.  GRABLE. 

<;rand   President.    United   Brotherhood  of  M.  of 

W.  Employees  and  Railroad  Shop  Laborers. 

E.  J.  FITZGERAIjD. 
Grand    President.   Brotherhood   of   Railway   and 
Steamship  Clerks.  Freight  Handlers,  Express 
and  Statron  Employees. 

D.  W.  IIELT. 

President,   Brotherhood   of  Railroad  Signalmen 

of  America. 

TIMOTHY  HEALY. 
President.    International    Brotherhood    of    Sta- 
tionary Firemen  and  Oilers. 

B.  M.  JEWELL. 

President.      Railway      Employees      Department, 

American  Federation  of  Labor. 


Before  the  United  States  Railway  Labor  Board.  1920 

Studies  of  the 

Cost  of  Maintaining  a  Family 

at  a  Level  of  Health 

and  Reasonable 

Comfort 


Presented  by  W.  Jett  Lauck 


INTRODUCTION 


Budgetary  studies  have  two  phases.  The  first  is  the  determina- 
tion of  the  standards  and  quantities  of  things  necessary  to  main- 
tain a  family  at  a  certain  level  of  living.  The  second  is  to  ascertain 
the  cost  of  the  items  arrived  at  as  necessary  for  the  purpose  men- 
tioned. The  determination  of  the  quantity  budget  is  of  course  the 
more  difficult.  The  pricing  of  the  quantity  budget  is  a  mere 
mechanical  detail,  involving  nothing  more  than  careful  field  work. 

The  ultimate  interest,  however,  lies  in  the  cost  of  the  budget.  For 
the  practical  value  of  such  studies  is  to  ascertain  in  what  degree  a 
particular  group  of  people  are  attaining  the  living  standards  set  up, 
and  this  is  most  readily  measured  in  terms  of  dollars  and  cents.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  must  always  be  remembered  that  the  cost  of  a 
budget  is  a  changing  thing,  fluctuating  with  the  changes  in  prices, 
and  that  the  tests  of  sufficiency  or  insufficiency  are  the  items  them- 
selves, not  their  cost. 

Budgetary  studies  of  the  character  referred  to  had  their  scientific 
beginning  in  this  country  with  Chapin's  "The  Standard  of  Living 
in  Now  York  City"'  (1907)  and  More's  "Wage-Earners'  Budgets" 
(190;i-190.jj.  These  were  followed  by  other  careful  investigations, 
such  as  those  of  the  New  York  State  Factory  Investigation  Com- 
mission and  the  Bureau  of  Per.sonal  Service  of  the  Board  of  Esti- 
mate and  Apportionment  of  New  Y'ork  City  in  1915.' 

K^cently  the  growing  interest  in  the  subject  of  a  living  wage  has 
stimulated  a  series  of  studies,  which,  because  they  had  the  work  of 
earlier  students  and  investigators  to  build  upon,  are  more  compre- 
hensive and  more  accurate  than  the  pioneer  studies  could  be.  The 
subject  is  still  not  upon  a  plane  of  absolute  scientific  precision,  but 
the  recently  published  reports  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Labor 
Statistics,  the  National  Industrial  Conference  Board  and  the  Phila- 
delphia Bureau  of  Municipal  Research  ofter  material  of  very  great 
value  for  a  final  solution  of  the  problem.     All  of  these  studies  ap- 


^A  summary  of  the  more  important  of  the  earlier  studies  was  published  in  1919 
under  the  title  of  "Standards  of  Living"  by  the  Bureau  of  Applied  Economics,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 


luirently  seek  l(»  dcteiinine  about  I  he  same  level  of  living — one  that 
will  assure  health  and  reasonable  comfort — although  the  definitions 
are  not  always  ])re(ise. 

The  present  volume  gives  digests  of  the  more  imi)(>rtant  of  the 
recent  studies  just  leferred  to.  Because  of  the  character  of  the 
subject  matter,  it  is  necssary  that  these  digests  be  fairly  full.  Also 
because  of  the  character  of  the  subject  matter,  it  is  ditticult  to  sum- 
maiize  the  seveial  studies  for  jturposes  of  easy  com])arison.  On  the 
single  point  of  moin'v  cost,  however,  a  faii'ly  satisfactory  comparison 
can  be  made.  The  following  table  offers  such  a  comparison  for  five 
of  the  studies  in  this  volume. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  these  studies  were  uot  all  made  at  the  same 
time,  the  cost  of  each  must  be  considered  in  relation  to  the  date 
upon  which  pi  icing  was  done.  The  last  column  of  the  table  gives 
the  approximate  cost  of  each  budget  at  the  present  time  (May. 
1920).  Tn  computing  the  present  cost,  figures  of  i)rice  increases 
]»ublished  by  the  National  Industrial  Conference  Board  have  been 
used,  as  these  are  the  latest  available  and  in  the  past  have  followed 
very  closely  the  figures  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics.  Tn 
certain  cases  where  the  figures  for  a  particular  mouth  were  not 
available,  interpolation  has  been  necessary.  The  increase  in  general 
cost  of  living  between  March  and  May  has  been  estimated  at  1  per 
cent  from  the  course  of  wholesale  prices  as  reported  by  Dun  and 
Bradstreet. 

The  budgets  compared  in  the  table  are : 

1.  The  Washington,  D.  C,  budget  of  the  V.  S.  Bureau 
of  Labor  Statistics  (without  deductions). 

2.  The  Bituminous  Coal  Miners"  budget  of  Professor 
Ogburn. 

3.  The  budget  worked  out  by  the  Philadelphia  Bureau 
of  Municipal  Research. 

4  and  5.  The  Fall  Kiver  and  Lawrence  budgets  of  the 
National  Industrial  Conference  Board  (the  ''more  liberal 
standard"  being  used  in  each  case). 


COMPARISON    OF    COSTS 
Of  Family  Budgets  of  Health  and  Reasonable  Comfort  Suggested!  by  Recent  Studies. 


Washington 

Budget. 

August, 

1919. 


Food    

Clothing    

Housing    

Fuel  and  Light 

Miscellaneous    

Total    cost    when    study 

was    made 

Estimated     Increase     in 

Cost    of    Living    since 

study  was  made. . . . 
Approximate     cost     May, 

1920  


$773.93 
513.72 
300.00 
128.00 
546.82 

2,262.47 


12% 
2,533.97 


Ogburn's 
Coal 

Miners' 

Budget. 

January, 
1920. 


$801.38 

455.26 

216.00 

70.00 

576.30 

2,118.94 


37c 
2,182.51 


Philadelphia 

Budget. 

Autumn, 

1918. 


$660.09 

299.43 

240.00 

75.00 

362.27 

1,636.79 


28% 
2,095.09 


Fall  River 

Budget. 

October, 

1919. 


$631.80 

322.25 

182.00 

84.25 

353.60 

1,573.90 


9% 
1,715.55 


Lawrence 

Budget. 

November, 

1919. 


$652.60 

340.26 

234.00 

87.98 

343.20 

1,658.04 


8% 
1,790.68 


I 

BUDGET    FOR    A    GOVERNMENT    EMPLOYEE'S    FAMILY 

IN  WASHINGTON,  D.   C. 


This  report  presents  the  results  of  a  study  made  by  the  United 
States  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  to  determine  the  cost  of  maintain- 
ing the  family  of  a  Government  employee  in  Washington  at  a  level 
of  health  and  decency.  This  involved  two  inquiries:  (1)  The  estab- 
lishing of  a  "quantity  budget,''  i.  e.,  the  number  or  quantity  of  the 
various  things  necessary  to  maintain  the  living  level  referred  to; 
and  (2)  the  ascertaining  of  the  total  cost  of  such  a  budget  at  the 
prices  prevailing  in  Washington  at  the  present  time  (August,  1919). 

Difficulty  of  Establishing  a  Proper  Budget  Level. 

Previous  studies  of  the  subject  have  analyzed  the  conception  of  a 
budget  level  and  have  distinguished  several  levels.  Some  of  the 
more  important  of  these  are  as  follows: 

(a)  The  pauper  or  poverty  level. — This  represents  roughly  a 
standard  of  living  just  above  where  families  receive  aid  from  charity 
or  where  they  run  into  serious  debt. 

(&)  The  minimum  of  suhsistence  level. — This  is  based  essentially 
on  mere  animal  existence  and  allows  little  or  nothing  for  the  needs 
of  men  as  social  creatures. 

(c)  The  minimum  of  health  and  eomfort  level. — This  represents 
a  slightly  higher  level  than  that  of  subsistence,  providing  not  only 
for  the  material  needs  of  food,  shelter,  and  body  covering,  but  also 
for  certain  comforts,  such  as  clothing  sufficient  for  bodily  comfort 
and  to  maintain  the  wearer's  instinct  of  self-respect  and  decency, 
some  insurance  against  the  more  important  misfortunes — death, 
disability,  and  fire— good  education  for  the  children,  some  amuse- 
ment, and  some  expenditures  for  self-development. 

Inasmuch  as  the  primary  aim  of  this  study  was  to  furnish  infor- 
mation for  use  by  the  Joint  Commission  of  Congress  on  Reclassifi- 

9 


10 

fijtion  of  Salaries,  ilu-  iiiiiiimuin  (»f  licalili.  (icccncy.  and  comfort 
was  kopt  ill  iiiiiid  in  (hMcriniiiinji  llic  (|iiaiilil.v  l>u<i;i;er  aud  in  selert- 
iiij;  (|iialiti('s  and  asccilaininji  piict's  <d"  articles  of  the  budfjet. 
Clearly  neither  a  pauper  itud^et  level  nor  a  mere  subssisteuce  level 
should  or  .  (tnld  he  submit te«l.  liul.  when  the  etl'ort  was  made  to  jjo 
fui-ther  than  this,  lo  (h'termine  a  level  abo\('  mere  sid>sisteuce.  but 
not  so  hiijh  as  to  be  unreasonable  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
lo  be  used,  serious  dilliculties  arose.  Part  of  the  difficulty  was  a 
matter  of  terminology.  IMirases  such  as  "a  comfort  level"  or  a  "level 
of  reasonable  comfoi-t"  are  by  no  means  clear  cut,  and  much  dis- 
cussion can  arise  as  to  just  what  ])arlicular  "comforts"  sliould  be 
included. 

Budget  T>kvkl  Used  ix  This  Study. 

Finally,  after  long  consideration,  it  was  decided  to  use  as  a  work- 
ing basis  a  budget  level  which  can  be  best  expressed  perhaps  by  the 
uhrase  ''a  standard  of  health  and  decency."  This  phrase  is  not 
(Mitirely  precise  in  meaning.  No  i)hrase  of  the  kind  can  very  well 
he  wholly  satisfactory.  The  budget  herewith  suggested  is  intended 
to  give  to  the  average  family,  consisting  of  husband,  wife,  and  three 
children  below  the  age  of  14  years — 

(1)  A  sufficiency  of  nourishing  food  for  the  maintenance  <»f 
health,  particularly  the  children's  health ; 

(2)  Housing  in  low-rent  neighborhoods  and  within  the  smallest 
]>os!?ible  number  of  rooms  consistent  with  decency,  but  with  suffi 
cient  light,  heat,  and  toilet  facilities  for  the  maintenance  of  health 
and  decency ; 

(3)  The  upkeeji  of  household  equipment,  such  as  kitchen  uten- 
sils, bedding,  and  linen,  necessars'  for  health,  but  with  no  provision 
for  the  purchase  of  additional  furniture; 

^4)  Clothing  sufficient  for  warmth,  of  a  sufficiently  good  (piality 
to  be  economical,  but  with  no  fui'ther  regard  for  appearance  and 
style  than  is  necessary  to  permit  the  family  members  to  appear  in 
public  and  within  their  rather  narrow  social  circle  without  sloven- 
liness or  loss  of  self-respect. 

to)  A  surplus  over  the  above  expenditures  which  would  permit 
of  only  a  minimum  outlay  for  such  necessary  demands  as — 

(a)     Street  car  fares  to  and  from  work  and  necessary  rides  to 

stores  and  markets; 
(5)     The  keeping  up  of  a  modest  amount  of  insurance; 

(c)  Medical  and  dental  cai'e; 

(d)  Tontributions  to  churches  and  labor  or  beneficial  organi- 

zations ; 


11 

(e)  Simple  amusements,  siieli  as  the  moving  pictures  once  in 
a  while,  occasional  street  car  rides  for  pleasure,  some 
Christmas  gifts  for  the  children,  etc.; 

{f)     Daily  newspaper. 

The  St.vndard  Family. 

This  budget  has  been  worked  out  for  a  family  consisting  of  hus- 
band, wife,  and  thret^  dei)endent  children — a  boy  of  11,  a  girl  of  ."5, 
and  a  boy  of  2  years  of  age.  The  number  in  the  family  and  the  ages 
of  the  children  conform  closely  to  the  standards  used  by  the  Bureau 
of  Labor  Statistics  and  other  investigators  in  the  past.  The  deter- 
mining factor  in  selecting  the  standard  family,  however,  was  the  fact 
that  a  family  of  this  particular  size  and  composition  represents 
actual  existing  families  in  the  United  States.  The  average  number 
in  the  white  families  scheduled  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics 
was  4.1)  individuals  (equivalent  to  3.33  adult  males),  which  corre- 
sponds very  closely  with  the  standard  family  of  5  individuals 
(equivalent  to  3.35  adult  males).  /The  assumption  that  the  three 
children  of  the  family  are,  respectively,  a  boy  aged  2  years,  a  girl 
as:ed  5  veai^s,  and  a  bov  aged  11  vears,  is,  of  course,  arbitrarv  and  is 
vsolely  for  the  purpose  of  making  precise  calculations  as  to  food  and 
clothing  consumption.  The  children  in  this  standard  family  arc 
growing  children,  not  yet  able  to  add  anything  to  the  family  income, 
and  not  so  expensive  to  maintain  as  they  will  become  a  few  years 
later.  This  standard  family  is  about  half  way  between  the  family 
with  no  children  and  the  family  with  grown  children  capable  of  self- 
sn])j)ort. 

BuDGKT  OF  Health  axd  Decency  Not  Intended  As  An  Ideal. 

It  needs  to  be  em]»hasized  that  the  budget  level  ado|)ted  in  the 
})resent  study  is  in  no  way  intended  as  an  ideal  budget.  It  was 
intended  to  establish  a  bottom  level  of  health  and  decency  below 
which  a  family  cannot  go  without  danger  of  j)hysical  and  moral 
deterioration.  This  budget  does  not  include  many  comforts  wbiclt . 
should  be  included  in  a  proi)er  ''American  standard  of  living." 
Thus  no  provision  is  directly  made  for  savings  other  than  insuiance. 
nor  for  vacations,  nor  for  books  and  other  educational   purposes. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  family  with  the  items  listed  in  this  budget 
should  be  able  to  maintain  itself  in  health  and  modest  comfort. 
It  would  have  a  sutficiency  of  food,  respectable  clotliing.  sanitary 
housing,  and  a  minimum  of  the  essential  '"sundries."' 


12 

TiiK  Cost  or   a    I{ri»(;i:i'   Lkvkl   Not   Nkckssarilv  a  Fixkd 

Money  Cost. 

The  iinmial  c*xj»ense  of  inainliiininj?  Ihe  luid<j;et  level  above  de- 
scribed may  be  arrived  al  \)\  oblaiiiinj;:  and  totaling  the  eiirrent 
prices  on  each  of  the  individual  items  enlerinji;  into  the  budget. 
This  has  been  done  as  jtarf  of  the  present  study  and  a  total  figure 
arrived  at  whicii  measures  the  annual  money  cost  of  all  the  budget- 
ary items  at  the  prices  now  prevailing  in  Washington,  D.  (\ 

It  is  highly  important  to  note,  however,  that  the  maintenance  of 
living  on  the  level  indicated  does  not  necessarily  require  the  receipt 
of  an  annual  income  of  precisely  this  amount.  This  is  so  for  several 
reasons.  Thus  the  family  here  used  as  a  basis  of  computation  is 
one  consisting  of  husband,  wife  and  three  dependent  <  hildren,  11,  5, 
and  2  vears  old.  A  uewlv  married  couple  does  not  start  house- 
keeping  with  a  family  of  3  children.  It  is  assumed  that  before  mar- 
riage and  in  the  early  years  of  marriage  savings  will  have  been  accu- 
mulated either  in  the  form  of  money  savings,  household  equipment, 
or  partial  ownership  of  a  home.  These  accumulations  must  be 
depended  upon  to  tide  the  family  over  the  period  when  the  children 
become  the  greatest  burden,  just  before  the  oldest  one  is  able  to 
earn  his  own  support  in  whole  or  in  large  part.  This  budget  assumes 
the  existence  of  an  equipment  of  household  furniture,  as  it  is  gen- 
erally true  that  married  couples  do  purchase  the  major  part  of  their 
household  furniture  either  at  marriage  or  shortly  thereafter.  If  the 
family  has  savings  invested,  the  family  income  is  supplemented  by 
the  amount  of  interest  received;  if  the  house  is  owned  the  cost  of 
the  budget  level  here  provided  for  would  be  reduced  by  the  saving 
in  the  expenditure  for  rent.  Another  factor  tending  to  reduce  the 
cost  of  the  budget  below  the  market  cost  of  the  individual  items  is 
the  extraordinary  ingenuity  of  most  families  in  economizing,  ])ar- 
ticularly  when  the  need  for  the  closest  economy  is  regarded  as  only 
of  temporary  duration.  This  ingenuity  expresses  itself  in  many 
ways,  and,  for  the  most  part,  ways  which  a  budget  study  such  as  the 
present  one  cannot  specify  or  estimate.  The  average  housewife  is 
iieta  perfect  cook,  a  perfect  seamstress,  or  a  perfect  '^shopper."  nor 
does  she  have  time,  even  if  she  has  the  ability,  to  attain  100  per  cent 
efficiency  in  cooking,  tailoring,  sho})j)ing,  and  the  many  other  skilled 
trades  which  she  must  practice  as  time  and  capacity  permit.  On 
the  other  hand,  almost  every  housewife  does  ])ossess  certain  abilities 
along  one  or  more  lines  and  by  the  exercise  thereof  is  able  to  reduce 
expenditures  along  these  lines  to  below  the  average.  However,  no 
housewife  can  reasonably  be  expected  to  ])erform  more  than  one 
miracle  of  domestic  economy  each  day. 


13 

In  many  families  the  husband,  and  even  the  children,  are  able  to 
contribute  certain  services — such  as  marketing,  housework,  repairs 
of  household — which  may  reduce  the  need  for  actual  money  expendi- 
ture or  may  permit  the  housewife  to  do  a  greater  amount  of  sew- 
ing, such  as  the  making  over  of  garments. 

In  these  and  many  other  ways  families  are  often — it  might  even 
be  said  usuallv — able  to  maintain  a  decent  standard  of  living  at  a 
somewhat  lesser  cost  than  the  market  prices  of  the  budgetary 
items.  Clearly  these  economies  can  be  effected  only  at  considerable 
sacrifice  of  time  and  convenience,  and  the  possibilities  of  such 
economies  are  often  greatly  overestimated.  The  not  infrequent  criti- 
cism of  standards  of  living  studies  that  families  do  actually  live  on 
smaller  incomes  than  those  indicated  is,  in  itself,  not  a  valid  criti- 
cism. Families  may  and  do  live,  although  underfed,  underclothed, 
unhealthily  housed,  overworked,  especially  the  wife  and  mother,  and 
deprived,  particularly  the  children,  of  many  things  essential  to  the 
development  of  healthy  and  useful  citizens.     * 


» 


Summary  of  Budget. 

Cost  of  quantity  budget  at  market  prices. 

I.     Food    $773.93 

II.     Clothing: 

Husband    $121.16 

Wife    166.46 

Boy    (11  years) 96.60 

Girl  (5  years) S2M 

Boy  (2  years) 47.00 

513.72 

III.  Housing,  fuel,  and  light 428.00 

IV.  Miscellaneous    546.82 

Total  budget  at  market  prices 2,262.47 

Possible  saving  upon  market  cost  by  a  family  of  extreme  thrift,  of  high 
intelligence,  great  industry  in  shopping,  good  fortune  in  purchasing  at 
lowest  prices,  and  in  which  the  wife  is  able  to  do  a  maximum  amount  of 
home  work: 

I.     Food  (7%  per  cent) $58.04 

II.     Clothing  (10  per  cent) 51.37 

III.     Housing    30.00 

IV.     Miscellaneous    107.50 

Total    economics 246.91 

Total  budget  minus  economies $2,015.56 

Savinys. — No  provision  is  made  in  this  budget  for  savings,  other 
than  the  original  cost  of  household  furniture  and  equipment,  which 
would  average  about  f  1,000  in  value.  Xo  definite  estimate,  of 
course,  can  be  made  as  to  the  amount  which  a  low-salaried  Govern- 
ment employee  should  be  exi)ected  to  save.  But  an  average  saving 
of  I2V2  V^v  cent  of  yearly  salary  during  an  employee's  single  and 
early  married  life  would  seem  to  be  the  maximum  which  could  be 


14 


oxjx'ctofl.  Ovci-  ;i  pciiod  of.  s:iy,  ITt  vcars  lliis  would  result  in  a 
lotal  accmimljition  of  about  #1'.(M)(>.  Assiiniinj;  S!1,()(K>  of  this  to 
be  invested  in  household  iH]uij»nient.  there  would  be  a  net  sum  «)!' 
f  1,000  available  for  investment  in  a  honu'  oi-  in  other  direct  income- 
producinji  form.  In  an.v  case,  it  would  rejtresent  an  annual  income 
of  approximately  ^^■>iK 

Itrniizal  Details  of  Budget. 
I.     FOOD. 


Item. 


Unit  of 

usual 

purchase. 


Weekly 

quantity 
per  family 

of  3.35 

equivalent 

adult. 

males. 


Weekly 
cost. 


Beef  and  veal,  fresh' 

Beef,    salt' 

Pork,    fresh' 

Pork,  salt,  including  smoked  ham  and  bacon' 

Mutton'    

Poultry'    

Other  meat,  including  sausage,  dried  beef,  etc.'. 

Fish  and  other  sea  food' 

Eggs    

Milk,  sweet,  and  buttermilk" 

Cream    

Milk,    condensed 

Butter  and  oleomargarine 

Cheese    

Tea    

Coffee  and  substitutes 

Sugar    

Molasses,  including  sirup  and  honey 

Lard  and  compounds 

Flour    

Corn    meal 

Bread'    

Rice    

Cereals    

Fruits,    fresh , 

Fruits,  dried  and  canned 

Potatoes    

Other  vegetables,  fresh  and  dried 

Other  vegetables,  canned 

Other  food' 


Weekly    total . 


Yearly    total. 
Ice    


Total. 


Pound 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Dozen 

Quart 

Pint 

Pound 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Peck 
Pound 

do. 

do. 


4.35 

.38 

.74 

1.03 

.60 

.52 

.66 

1.31 

1.31 

8.86 

.06 

1.25 

1.87 

.38 

.19 

.78 

3.13 

.68 

1.10 

7.50 

1.23 

9.66 

.85 

2.21 

7.71 

.70 

.95 

10.89 

.84 

1.83 


$1.64 
.14 
.38 
.53 
.22 
.24 
.25 
.39 
.79 

1.35 
.02 
.25 

1.18 
.19 
.15 
.41 
.34 
.12 
.44 
.60 
.07 

1.01 
.14 
.33 
.70 
.18 
.71 
.88 
.24 

-.66 


'•$14.55 


'$755.93 
18.00 


$773.93 


'Total  meat  and  fish  equivalent  to  1.37  pounds  per  day. 

"Equivalent  to  1.27  quarts  of  milk  per  day. 

"Equivalent  to  1.38  pound  loaves  of  bread  per  day. 

'Including  crackers,  cake,  pies,  ice  cream,  candy,  jelly,  oil,  chocolate,  peanut  butter, 
cocoa,  nuts,  gelatin  and  canned  soup. 

'The  weekly  quantity  budget  has  been  drafted  from  the  year's  budget,  which 
explains  the  slight  difference  in  cost  between  the  weekly  total  and  the  yearly  total. 


15 


II.     CLOTHING. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


Husband. 

Hat,    felt 

Hat,    straw 

Suit,  winter  (wool) 

Suit,  summer  (wool) 

Overcoat    

Raincoat    

Shirts,    cotton 

Union  suit,  summer 

Union  suit,  winter  (part  wool) 

Pajamas    

Socks,   cotton 

Shoes: 

High    

Low    

Shoe  repairing: 

Whole    soles 

Half  soles,  including  heel.. 

Rubbers    

Gloves,    kid 

Collars    

Ties    

Handkerchiefs    

Garters    

Belt    

Suspenders    

Umbrella    

Cleaning,    pressing 

.Miscellaneous    


$4.00 

2.00 

40.00 

40.00 

40.00 

15.00 

2.00 

1.50 

3.50 

2.50 

.50 

7.50 
7.50 

3.50 

2.50 

1.25 

3.00 

.25 

.50 

.25 

.35 

1.50 

.75 

4.00 

1.50 


Total. 


Wife. 

Summer  clothing. 

Hat    

Wash    skirt 

Waists,  cotton  (to  be  made  at  home) 

Waist,   dress 

Dresses,  cotton,  thin  (to  be  made  at  home) 
Underwear    (separate    garments    or    union 

suits) 

Petticoats,  cotton,  muslin 

Shoes,    tow 

Gloves,    cotton 


Winter  clothing. 

Hat    

Suit,    wool 

Dress,  wool  serge 

Coat,    wool 

Petticoat,  dark  cotton 

Underwear  (union  suit,  part  wool) 

Shoes,    high 

Gloves,    kid 


$7.50 
5.00 
2.50 
7.50 
5.00 

1.00 
2.00 
8.50 
1.00 


10.00 

53.00 

25.00 

50.00 

3.00 

3.00 

9.50 

2.50 


¥2 


y2 


5 
3 
1 
1 
12 


V2 


12 
3 

8 
2 


1^ 


1L 


X<, 


5 


$2.00 

'  2.00 

20.00 

20.00 

10.00 

2.50 

10.00 

4.50 

3.50 

2.50 

6.00 

7.50 
3.75 

3.50 

2.50 

.63 

1.50 

3.00 

1.50 

2.00 

.70 

.50 

.75 

1.33 

6.00 

3.00 


$121.16 


% 


$7.50 
2.50 
7.50 
3.75 

10.00 

3.00 
2.00 
8.50 
1.00 


5.00 

26.50 

12.50 

16.66 

3.00 

3.00 

9.50 

1.25 


16 


II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


Year-round  clothing. 


Houae  dresses  

Apron,    kitchen 

Corset    (standard  make) 

Corset    covers 

Brassieres    

Night    dresses 

Kimono    

Stockings,    cotton 

Shoe  repairing: 

New    heels 

Whole    soles 

Handkerchiefs    

Umbrella    

Rubbers    

Cleaning  and  pressing. . . . 
Miscellaneous    


Total. 


Boy,  11  Te^rs  of  Age. 

Caps  or   hats 

Suit,    wool 

Pants,  separate,  wool  (winter) 

Pants,  separate,  wool  and  cotton  (summer) 

Overcoat    

Sweater    

Overalls   

Shirts  or  blouses,  cotton 

Summer  underwear  (union  suits) 

Winter  underwear  (union  suits) 

Pajamas  or  nightshirts 

Stockings    

Shoes : 

High   

Low   

Shoe  repairing  (whole  soles) 

Rubbers    

Gloves  or  mittens 

Collars    

Ties    

Handkerchiefs    

Garters    

Belt    

Miscellaneous   


$3.00 

.60 

6.00 

.85 

.50 

1.50 

4.50 

.65 

.40 
3.00 

.25 
3.00 
1.50 
3.00 


$1.00 

16.00 

3.00 

2.00 

12.50 

6.00 

1.25 

1.15 

1.00 

3.00 

1.00 

.60 

5.00 

3.00 

2.00 

1.00 

.50 

.25 

.50 

.10 

.25 

.60 


2 
1 
1 
3 

2 
2 


% 


^/3 


2 
1 
1 
2 


V2. 


1 

5 
3 
2 

2 

12 


^k 


$6.00 
.60 
6.00 
2.55 
1.00 
3.00 
2.25 
5.20 

1.20 
3.00 
2.00 
1.00 
1.50 
3.00 
5.00 


Total. 


I 


$166.46 


$2.00 
16.00 
3.00 
4.00 
6.25 
3.00 
1.25 
5.75 
3.00 
6.00 
2.00 
7.20 

15.00 

6.00 

10.00 

1.00 

1.00 

.75 

1.00 

.60 

.50 

.30 

1.00 

$96.60 


17 


II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Girl,  5  Years  of  Age. 


Hat,  summer 

Cap  or  hat,  winter: 

Cap    

Hat    

Dresses,  cotton  (to  be  made  at  home) 

Dress,  wool  (to  be  made  at  home) 

Apron  (to  be  made  at  home) 

Coat    

Sweater    

Cotton  petticoats: 

Muslin    

Outing  flannel 

Summer  underwear: 

Shirts   

Drawers,  muslin 

Underwaists    

Winter  underwear: 

Shirts,  wool 

Drawers,  wool 

Nightdresses: 

Muslin    

Outing  flannel 

Stockings,  cotton 

Shoes : 

High    

Low    

Rubbers    

Mittens    

Handkerchiefs    

Garters    

Miscellaneous    


Total. 


Boy,  2  Years  of  Age. 

Hats  or  caps: 

Hat,  duck 

Cap    

Dresses,    cotton    suits,    rompers, 

etc.  (to  be  made  at  home) . . . , 

Overcoat    

Sweater    

Summer  underwear: 

Undershirts    , 

Drawers,  muslin 

Underwaists    

Winter  underwear: 

Undershirts    

Drawers    


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


overalls. 


$5.00 

2.00 
5.00 
2.25 
6.00 
1.00 
15.00 
4.00 

1.00 
1.50 

.50 
.30 
.75 

1.50 
1.50 

1.00 

1.25 

.40 

4.00 
3.00 
.85 
.50 
.10 
.25 


$  .50 
.75 

1.00 

12.00 

3.50 

.50 
.30 
.65 

1.00 
1.00 


% 


¥2 


2 
1 

3 
5 
4 

2 

2 

1 

1 

12 


3 
1 
1 
6 
2 


^k. 


o 
4 

9 

■J 

2 


Yearly  cost. 


$5.00 


2.00 
13.50 
3.00 
1.00 
7.50 
2.00 

2.00 
1.50 

1.50 
1.50 
3.00 

3.00 
3.00 

1.00 
1.25 
4.80 

12.00 
9.00 
.85 
.50 
.60 
.50 
2.50 


$82.50 


\  .50 
.75 

8.00 
6.00 
1.75 

1.50 

.90 

2.60 

2.00 
2.00 


18 


II.     CLOTHING— Concluded. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


IJoy,  i  Years  of  Age^ConcludHl 


Nightdresses : 

Muslin    

Outing    flannel 

Stockings  and  socks,  cotton. 
Shoes : 

High   

Low   (sandals) 

Mittens   

Garters    

Miscellaneous   


$1.00 

1.25 

.39 

3.50 

3.00 

.35 

.25 


Total. 


1 

1 

10 

2 
2 
1 
2 


$1.00 
1.25 
3.90 

7.00 

6.00 

.35 

.50 

1.00 


$47.00 


III.     HOUSING.  FUEL,  AND  LIGHT $428.00 

(This  item  covers  rent  at  $300  a  year,  and  fuel  and  light  at  $128  a  year.) 


IV.     MISCELLANEOUS. 

Upkeep  of  house,  furniture,  and  furnishings $70.00 

Laundry    work 104.00 

Cleaning  supplies  and  services 32.92 

Health   80.00 

Insurance: 

(a)  Life   (disability) 110.00 

(b)  Furniture   1..50 

Car  fare: 

Husband,  600  rides 

Wife  and  children,  300  rides 

Amusements  and  recreation 

Newspapers  

Organizations: 

(a)  Church    

( b)  Labor     

Incidentals  


30.00 

15.00 

20.00 

8.40 

13.00 
10.00 
52.00 


$546.82 


DETAILED  DATA  TPON  WHICH  P.rDCiET   IS   I5ASED. 

I.    Food. 

Ill  the  cleteniiiiiatioii  of  a   proper  family  dietary    ilii'ie  are   two 
.standards  which  must  be  assumed  at  the  beginning,  i  1  i  tlie  scieutiti 
cally  established  food  requirement  in  calories  per  day,  and  (2)  the 
commonly  recognized  unit  of  measure  of  the  size  of  family  in  equiva- 
lent adult  males. 

Various  scientific  students  of  food  have  estimated  that  the  number 
of  calories  needed  by  a  man  at  moderately  hard  muscular  work  is 
:{,.~)(K)  per  day.  A  family  usually  wastes  about  lU  per  cent  of  the 
caloric  value  of  food  in  preparation,  cooking,  etc.,  and  also  a  small 
})er  cent  of  the  food  which  enters  the  mouth  is  not  digested  or  assimi- 
lated. Therefore,  3,500  calories  purchased  represents  approximately 
:>,100  to  0,200  calories  actually  consumed  by  the  body.  The  standard 
of  3,500  calories  is  for  a  man  at  moderately  hard  muscular  work,  and 
since  most  Government  clerks  are  engaged  in  very  light  muscular 
labor  the  3,100-3,200  calories  would  appear  to  be  sufficient.  On  the 
other  hand,  when  Government  emjjloyees  are  taken  as  a  whole,  and 
when  those  who  are  engaged  in  moderately  hard  physical  work  in  the 
(Tovernmeut  Printing  Office  and  the  Bureau  of  Engraving  and  Print- 
ing are  taken  into  consideration,  the  allowance  of  3,500  calories  pur- 
chasfd  to  yield  3,100-3.200  seems  to  be  none  too  high. 

The  standard  of  a  definite  number  of  calories  per  man  per  day 
makes  it  necessary  to  ascertain  the  food  requirements  of  the  other 
members  of  the  family  and  convert  them  into  terms  of  a  common 
unit  of  measurement,  namely,  the  equivalent  adult  male.  In  order 
to  make  precise  calculations,  the  following  food  budget  has  been 
drawn  up  on  the  basis  of  a  family  of  5 — husband,  wife,  and  3  chil- 
dren, boy,  aged  11;  girl,  5,  and  boy,  2.  According  to  the  .standard 
established  by  the  United  t^tates  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  taking 
the  caloric  requirement  of  a  man  as  1.0,  that  of  a  woman  is  0.0;  a 
boy  of  11  years,  0.9;  a  girl  of  5  years,  0.1;  and  a  boy  of  2  years,  0.15. 
The  combined  food  requirements  of  this  family,  which  is  considered 
an  average-sized  family  and  has  been  taken  as  a  iKtrniai  family, 
would  be  equal  to  that  of  3.35  adult  males. 

The  quantity  food  budget  submitted  here  as  representing  the  mini- 
mum food  requirements  of  a  family  of  5  was  obtained  by  averaging 
the  actual  amounts  of  food  used  by  2Sn  selected  families  witli  three 

19 


20 

chihlrcii  of  ;ili<)Ut  the  Mj^cs  iiidicalcd.  The  fiiiiiilics  clioseii  from  each 
city  averafxed  in  size  approximately  .'5..'>r)  e(piivalent  adult  males,  and 
3,500  calories  of  food  purchased  per  man  i)er  day.  On  furtlier  de- 
tailed analysis,  and  by  compaiison  with  ;i  rccojjjnized  standard,  thti 
average  dietary  of  o.oOO  calories  thus  obtained  was  found  to  consist 
of  meat,  milk,  vegetables,  etc.,  in  such  ])roportions  as  to  furnish  the 
body  in  a  general  way  with  the  necessary  amounts  of  ])roteins,  fats, 
carbo-hydrates,  mineral  constituents,  acids,  and  other  substances 
necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  iiealth.  Following  is  a  comparison 
of  the  food  allowance  of  this  budget  with  the  miinmum  standards 
generally  accepted  by  scientitic  students  of  the  subject: 


OUNCES  OF  FOOD  CONSUMED  PER  MAN  PER  DAY. 


1              Dairy 
Meat. !  Fish,    prod- 
ucts. 

Milk. 

Ce- 
reals. 

1 
Vege-  1  Fruits, 
tables.  1 

Fats.    Sugar. 

1 

Average  of  280| 
families  .  ..  .|      5.6 

Standard !  4  or  5 

1 

0.9 

2 

15.5 
16 

12.1 
11  or  12 

15.1 
12 

17.6            5.8 
16  or  20    16  or  20 

2.1 
2 

2.7 
2 

The  2S()  food  budgets  used  in  obtaining  this  average  were  selected 
from  family  schedules  collected  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics 
in  the  recent  cost-of-living  survey  of  the  United  States.  These  sched- 
ules were  taken  in  great  detail,  giving,  among  other  thing.s,  the 
amount  of  each  article  of  food  purchased  for  a  year  for  each  family 
scheduled.  The  280  budgets  used  in  this  detailed  caloric  analysis 
were  made  up  from  about  25  cases  from  each  of  11  representative 
cities. 

It  would,  of  course,  have  been  preferable  to  analyze  in  detail  280 
food  budgets  collected  from  families  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  but 
the  time  allowed  for  the  present  minimum  budget  prohibited  any  such 
])lan.  It  seems  likely,  however,  that  the  average  dietary  here  pre- 
sented is  not  far  from  correct.  By  taking  an  average  of  families 
located  over  a  considerable  area,  all  local  peculiarities  and  extreme 
tastes  should  have  been  smoothed  out.  The  applicability  of  this 
average  budget  to  the  city  of  Washington  is  further  substantiated  by 
the  fact  that  the  population  here  is  unusually  cosmopolitan,  due  to 
the  working  of  the  apportioned  civil  service. 

Another  i)ossibility  would  have  been  to  use  accepted  standards  as 
a  guide  and  construc^  a  dietary  composed  of  meats,  vegetables,  milk, 
etc.,  which  would  meet  the  ideal  requirements.  This  method,  how- 
ever, would  have  been  difficult,  more  or  less  arbitrary,  and  subject  to 


21 

the  criticism  tliat  it  would  not  meet  the  actual  desires  and  peculiari- 
ties of  people  as  they  are.  Of  course,  the  average  dietary  has  its 
obvious  defects,  and  is  not  recommended  as  ideal.  For  instance,  it 
is  highly  desirable,  from  both  an  economical  and  a  dietary  stand- 
point, for  a  family  to  secure  its  protein  by  the  use  of  more  eggs  and 
less  meat  than  the  quantities  used  in  the  average  budget.  As  here 
I)resented,  the  food  budget  which  has  been  arrived  at  is  based  on 
what  the  experience  of  a  large  number  of  families  in  various  sections 
of  the  country  shows  to  be  a  practical  minimum  for  the  maintenance 
of  health.  That  the  selection  of  foodstuffs  is  probably  as  economical 
as  is  consistent  with  a  fairlv  balanced  diet  is  indicated  bv  the  fact 
that  the  families  whose  dietaries  are  here  used  were  all  workingmen's 
families  in  moderate  circumstances.     *     *     * 

II,    Clothing. 

The  quantities  of  the  different  kinds  of  clothing  required  by  the 
standard  family  have  been  arrived  at  by  personal  interviews  with 
Government  employees  and  their  wives  and  others  familiar  with  the 
standard  of  living  required  of  the  Government  worker's  family  in 
Washington,  and  have  been  checked  with  several  previous  studies, 
particulai'ly  with  the  clothing  budgets  of  approximately  850  families 
with  children  under  l.j  secured  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  in 
1918-19. 

In  preparing  the  following  budget  the  quantity  of  clothing  based 
on  length  of  wear  has  been  made  fundamental  and  agreed  upon 
before  tabulating  prices.  The  quantities  listed  in  the  budget  are  for 
annual  replacements,  and  it  has  been  assumed  that  the  amounts 
listed  will  be  supplemented  by  the  ''holdover"  of  similar  garments 
from  the  previous  year.  In  the  case  of  a  garment  which  may  be 
expected  reasonably  to  last  over  a  period  longer  than  one  year,  the 
annual  amount  has  been  expressed  in  a  fraction,  i.  e.,  a  coat  to  be 
worn  two  years,  as  i^ ;  three,  as  %,  etc. 

A  few  possible  alternatives  have  been  suggested,  and  individual 
tastes  will,  of  course,  make  other  changes  and  adjustments  necessary 
for  each  family. 

Ill  preparing  this  quantity  budget  a  considerable  amount  of 
sewing  at  home  has  been  assumed  as  possible,  and  has  been  indicated 
accordingly.  When  more  than  the  si)ecified  amount  is  done,  a  saving 
may  be  effected,  or  the  family  clothed  more  abundantly.  On  the 
other  hand,  where  little  or  no  home  sewing  can  be  done,  economy  will 
need  to  be  practiced  in  the  number  of  garments  or  along  other  lines. 

Theoretically,  the  level  of  health  and  decency  in  clothing  has  been 
interpreted  as  a  level  winch  tekps  into  account  not  only  Uie  physical 


22 

needs  of  wanutli,  clcaiiliiK'ss  aiul  roiiitoit,  but  which  also  has  suob 
iv«,Mi(l  for  ai»i><'aiaiuo  and  style  as  Avill  permit  the  family  members 
to  appear  in  piildie,  and  within  their  necessarily  rather  narrow  social 
circle,  with  neatness  and  self-respect,  hi  other  words,  the  clothing 
standards  of  the  family  should  provide  a  fair  degree  of  that  mental 
satisfaclictn  which  follows  from  being  reasonably  well-dressed.  15ut 
while  admitting  the  desirability  of  this  more  genercms  wardrobe,  an 
etVort  has  been  made  to  allow  only  those  (juantities  of  clothing  con 
sistent  with  the  ininiiiiKm  re<iuirement  for  health  and  decency,  and. 
where  a  doubt  has  existed,  to  err  <m  the  side  of  conservatism  rather 
than  to  i»resent  an  opportunity  for  the  criticism  of  extravagance. 
So  emphatic,  however,  have  beeu  the  expressions  of  some  who  feel 
that  a  decided  error  has  been  made  on  the  side  of  rigid  economy 
that  a  supplemental  list  of  highly  desirable  additions  to  the  wife's 
clothing  has  been  prepared  and  made  a  part  of  this  report.     *     *     * 

Siii)j)lnn(nt(il  Lint  of  W'lfc^^  Clotliiiiff. 

The  clothing  budget  has  been  cut  down  to  what  amounts  to  aliiiost 
a  subsistence  budget.  In  the  case  of  the  wife,  it  would  be  highly 
desirable  from  the  i»oint  of  view  of  <omfort  and  of  the  standar<l 
expected  of  the  wife  of  a  Government  employee  that  she  be  allowed 
at  least  |5()  more  ])er  year  on  her  clothing  budget.  The  jirices  given 
presuppose  more  time  to  liuul  for  good  values  than  the  aveiage 
mother  of  three  children  can  atl'ord.  She  is  allowed  no  furs,  and  the 
suit  allowed  is  of  rather  light  weight,  so  that  for  the  sake  of  her  own 
lieallh  it  would  be  much  better  if  she  could  atford  to  buy  a  better 
coat  for  winter  wear. 

She  has  been  allowed  only  one  afternoon  dress  of  wool  to  last  two 
years,  and  she  has  been  allowed  no  dress  petticoat  to  wear  with  it. 
It  would  be  much  more  satisfactory  if  she  were  allowed  one  jersey- 
silk  petticoat  a  year.  This  would  cost  a  little  more  than  the  cotton 
one,  but  would  combine  comfort  and  durability.  It  is  questicmable 
if  the  georgette  waist  allowed  every  other  year  can  be  made  to  last 
two  years  even  with  the  most  careful  laundering  and  this  is  her  only 
fancy  blouse.  The  same  is  true  of  llie  two  cotton  house  dresses 
allowed. 

The  wife  has  been  allowed  one  wool  dress  every  two  years  for 
afternoon  or  evening  wear.  Aside  from  hei-  suit  and  georgette  blouse 
this  wool  dress  is  the  only  garment  she  has  to  wear  to  social  atfairs 
of  the  church  and  conimnnity.  A  wool  dress  is  essentially  a  business 
or  street  dress,  being  too  heavy  and  sombre  for  afternoon  or  evening 
wear.  A  silk  dress  would  be  a  much  more  satisfactory  article  with 
which  t(t  sujiplement  her  suit  and  georgette  blonse  during  the  second 


23 


season's  wear,  when  they  have  jjiown  souiewhal  worn  and  shabby. 
The  substitntion  of  a  silk  dress  in  place  of  wool  serge  will  add  only 
|7.50  annually  to  the  wife's  clothinii:  budget,  as  silk  dresses  of  fair 
quality  can  be  bought  in  the  Washington  stores  for  |40. 

Only  two  night  dresses  a  year  have  been  allowed,  and  these  will 
be  insutticient  if  she  has  any  illness  during  the  year. 

A  winter  hat  has  been  allowed  only  every  other  year  and  no  allow- 
ance has  been  made  for  retrininiing.  Without  retriniming  it  will  be 
out  of  style  by  the  second  year,  and  while  the  average  woman  should 
not  and  will  not  desire  to  wear  extreme  styles,  neither  will  she  wish 
to  be  conspicuous  because  her  clothing  is  entirely  out  of  the  prevail- 
ing mode. 

It  would  be  highly  desirable  from  the  standpoint  of  comfort,  and 
I)robably  of  economy,  if  the  wife  were  allowed  two  ])airs  of  silk 
stockings  each  year.  The  cotton  stockings  on  the  market  are  of  poor 
grade  and  high  price  at  the  present  time  and  neither  so  comfortable 
nor  neat  looking  as  the  silk  hose. 

The  shoes  allowed  are  heavy  walking  shoes.  It  would  add  to  the 
wife's  comfort  if  she  were  allowed  one  pair  of  dress  shoes  at  least 
every  other  year.  No  allowance  has  been  made  for  house  slipj)ers, 
and  this  means  that  she  must  make  her  low  shoes  of  the  previous 
year  hold  over  for  this  jmrpose. 

The  f5  allowance  for  miscellaneous  items  is  very  small  when  the 
simplest  collar  and  cutf  set  is  at  least  a  dollar,  when  hair  nets  that 
last  only  a  few  days  are  12^/2  cents  each,  and  when  all  other  miscel- 
laneous items  have  doubled  in  price.  It  would  appear  that  an 
allowance  of  ^10  would  more  nearly  meet  her  needs  for  miscellane- 
ous items. 

ADDITIONAL   LIST   OF  DESIRABLE  ARTICLES   FOR  WIFE'S   CLOTHING. 


Article. 


Quantity 
allowed. 


Quantity 
desirable. 


Additional 

cost  to 

yearly 

budget. 


Winter  hat 

Better  quality  winter  coat 

Silk   petticoat 

Silk  stockings 

Crepe  de  chine  or  georgette  blouse. 

Night  dresses 

House  dresses 

Dress  shoes 

House  slippers 

Miscellaneous    

Sobstitution  of  silk  dress  for  serge. 


O 


% 
0 
0 

% 

2 
2 
0 
0 


(') 


1 

% 
1 
2 
1 
3 
3 

% 


"Tffttis. 


$5.00 
8.33 
6.00 
3.00 
3.75 
1.50 
3.00 
6.00 
1.00 
5.00 
7.50 


$50.08 


(')  Amount  allowed,  $5;  amount  desirable,  $10. 


24 

II!.     llousiXG,  Fuel  and  Light, 

Annual  cost  of  rent,  fuel,  and  light $^28 

Housing  fitandanl. — The  luiniiuuin  housing;  standnrd  for  a  family 
of  tivo  has  betMi  taken  as  one  of  four  rooms  with  bath  and  running 
water.  The  possession  of  a  bath  and  running  water  is  necessary  to 
health  and  cleanliness.  Moreover,  at  the  present  time  practically 
all  houses  and  apartments  in  Washington  are  supjdied  with  these 
conveniences,  except  very  old  structures,  which  even  in  other  re- 
spects cannot  be  accepted  as  offering  decent  and  healthful  housing. 
The  possession  of  four  rooms  is  absolutely  necessary  to  a  family  of 
five  to  i)revent  extreme  overcrowding,  and  is,  of  course,  the  barest 
minimum.  It  would  mean  a  kitchen,  a  combined  living  and  dining 
room,  and  two  bedrooms,  with  the  necessity  in  nmny  cases  of  the 
combined  living  and  dining  room  being  also  used  as  a  sleeping  room. 
For  the  particular  family  used  in  this  study  as  a  type,  five  rooms 
and  bath  would  be  the  only  comfortable  minimum.  In  any  case, 
this  strict  minimum  can  apply  only  to  apartments.  The  standard 
small  house  in  Washington  is  one  of  six  rooms.  Houses  of  four 
and  five  rooms  (except  some  very  modern  suburban  bungalows)  are 
almost  entirely  very  old  structures  without  modern  conveniences. 

Fuel  and  light  standard. — Certain  previous  attempts  to  erect 
budgetary  standards  have  assigned  a  specific  amount  of  fuel  and 
light  as  a  minimum — such,  for  instance,  as  one  ton  of  coal  per  room 
per  year.  This  method,  however,  is  not  very  satisfactory,  especially 
in  a  city  like  ^^'ashington,  where  apartment  living  is  to  prevalent. 
Therefore,  in  the  present  study  it  has  seemed  better  to  base  the 
minimum  on  the  usual  expenditures  for  fuel  and  light,  during  the 
past  year,  by  families  hou.sed  according  to  the  minimum  housing 
standards  here  adopted  and  which  were  not  extravagant  in  their 
use  of  fuel  and  light.  By  using  this  method  the  difficulty  is  avoided 
of  trying  to  erect  minimum  quantity  standards  for  various  sizes 
and  kinds  of  coal,  and  various  lighting  systems — gas,  electricitv 
and  kerosene.  The  choice  among  the  articles  usually  does  not  de- 
pend ujion  the  desire  of  the  occupant,  but  upon  the  character  of  the 
house.     *     *     • 

IV.       MiSCELLAXKOUS    EXPENSES. 

Upkeep  of  house  furniture  and  furnishings ^70 

The  budget  here  prepared  regards  the  initial  furnishing  of  a  house 
with  the  more  durable  articles  of  furniture  as  a  matter  which  the 


25 

prudent  man  and  woman  should  attend  to  at  the  beginning  of  their 
married  life  before  they  have  the  burden  of  a  large  family,  and 
therefore  as  an  expense  which  need  not  be  counted  in  attempting 
to  fix  a  living  budget  for  a  family  when  it  is  at  its  period  of  nmxi- 
nium  expense. 

However,  the  upkeep  of  house  furnishings,  such  as  bedding, 
towels,  and  kitchen  and  table  ware,  and  also  the  replacement  of 
worn-out  furniture,  is  a  necessary,  recurrent  expenditure.  Investi- 
gation and  study  of  existing  data  indicate  that  the  cost  of  such  up- 
keep approximates  (>  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  furniture  and 
furnishings  of  the  usual  household  of  persons  in  moderate  circum- 
stances. 

A  special  investigation  was  made  by  agents  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor 
Statistics  to  determine  the  minimum  amount  of  furniture  and 
furnishings  necessary  for  a  small  house  or  apartment.  Prices  on 
this  minimum  amount  were  secured  from  Washington  stores  in 
August,  1919,  and  found  to  total  |1,083.  Even  with  the  closest 
economy  in  buying,  including  the  i)urchase  of  some  second-hand 
furniture,  this  total  could  not  well  be  reduced  below  $1,000.  For 
annual  upkeep  G  per  cent  of  this  amount,  or  $60,  would  be  nei^essary. 
About  |10  or  $11  a  year  additional  is  required  for  gas  mantles  or 
electric  blubs,  curtains,  and  a  few  other  articles  which  could  not  be 
estimated  quantitatively.  This  would  make  the  total  minimum 
annual  expenditure  for  upkeep  of  house  furnishings  $70. 

Laundry  work,  assistance  with  washing,  1  day  per  week $104 

In  the  family  of  five  used  as  a  basis  in  the  present  budget  esti- 
mates, the  wife  is  presumed  to  do  the  cooking  for  the  family,  to  do 
the  cleaning  of  the  house  or  apartment,  to  make  most  of  the  simpler 
garments  worn  by  herself  and  the  children,  to  keep  all  clothes  in 
repair,  to  care  for  the  children,  and  to  do  the  marketing.  It  would 
seem  unreasonable  to  expect  that  in  addition  she  should  do  the 
laundry  work  entirely  unassisted.  Therefore,  this  budget  has  al- 
lowed for  the  assistance  of  a  person  for  one  day  each  week  and  |2 
per  day  seems  to  be  the  prevailing  rate  in  ^Vashington  for  service  of 
this  kind. 

Cleaning  suppUes  and  services $32.92 

The  following  seems  to  be  the  minimum  re<iuirement  of  cleaning 
supplies  and  services  to  insure  personal  and  household  cleanliness. 
(Mops,  brooms  and  brushes  are  included  under  furnish incs.) 


26 


Cleaning  supplies  and  services 


I  Unit  price.  |    Quantity. 


I 


Personal:  I 

Toilet  soap,  small  bar  Ivory I       $0.07 

Toothbrush I  -25 

Toothpaste,  tube  or  box I  .25 

Combs,  hard  rubber I  -50 

Hairbrushes I  1-50 

Shoe   polish,   box I  15 

Barber's  services:  I 

Husband,  hair  cut I  -50 

Children,  hair  cut I  -40 

Household :  I 

Laundry  soap,  ^ L'-lb.  bar I  06 

Starch,  pound !  07 

Cleanser,  box I  05 

Unspecified  cleaning  supplies  and  services,  suchj 
as  borax,  ammonia,  washing  powder,  bluing, 
insect  powder,  etc 


Total. 


70 
5 

12 
1 


% 


12 

8 

120 
6 


Total  cost. 


$4.90 

1.25 

3.00 

.50 

.75 

.90 

6.00 
3.20 

7.20 

.42 

1.80 


3.00 


$32.92 


Health  ^^^ 


Some  allowaiuo  must  of  course  be  made  for  the  maintenance  of 
health.  This  exi)enditure  iueludes  i)h.ysieian,  dentist,  oculist,  glasses, 
and  drugs,  both  prescriptions  and  pre})ared  remedies. 

No  definite  number  of  visits  to  the  doctor  can  be  assumed  as  nec- 
essary, but  aside  from  the  occurrence  of  major  illnesses,  colds  and 
the  various  diseases  of  childhood  will  doubtless  make  a  doctor's 
services  necessary  at  some  time  during  the  year.  Not  only  will  this 
item  have  to  provide  for  prescri])tions,  but  also  for  the  various 
family  remedies. 

At  least  one  visit  to  the  dentist  during  the  year  for  three  members 
of  the  family  will  be  necessary,  and  rarely  does  one  visit  })rove 
sufficient. 

In  the  absence  of  any  known  quantitative  measurement,  it  has 
been  felt  that  the  most  accurate  figure  will  be  the  average  amount 
spent  by  families  of  Government  em])loyees. 

A  special  investigation  of  the  exi)enditures  of  04  families  during 
the  year  ending  July  ol,  l!)ll>,  shows  the  average  expenditure  for 
doctor,  dentist,  oculist,  and  other  items  necessary  for  the  niainte 
nance  of  health  to  have  been  f90.37.  The  year  covered  by  these  ex- 
j)enditures,  however,  included  the  "fin"  ej)idemic  of  last  autumn  and 
winter,  which  undoubtedly  added  to  the  average  expense  of  medical 
attention  and  medicine.  For  this  reason  it  has  seemed  reasonable  to 
fix  the  health  allowance  in  this  budget  at  $80. 


27 

Insurance:   (a)  Life,  $5,000  ordinary  policy,  yearly  premium $110 

It  is  a  <;en('i-ally  at-repted  fact  that  the  male  head  of  a  family 
sliould  can-v  iiisiivaiue  on  his  life  to  protect  his  wife  and  children 
in  the  event  of  his  death.  In  order  to  do  this  it  is  necessary  that  the 
yearly  income  be  sufficient  to  meet  the  yearly  insurance  premiums. 
The  only  question  would  seem  to  be  as  to  the  amount  of  insurance 
which  should  be  carried.  It  would  seem  that  a  fo.OOO  policy  would 
be  the  minimum  for  protection  and  safety.  In  the  event  of  the 
husband's  death  this  would  assure  an  income  to  the  wife  and  chil- 
dren of  not  over  ^300  per  year,  or  |6  per  week.     *     *     * 

Insurance :   (b)  Furniture ^l-^^ 

Furniture  insurance  is  a  cheap  form  of  insurance  which  it  is 
highly  important  that  every  family  should  carry,  as  the  loss  of 
household  equipment  is  an  extremely  serious  matter  to  a  family  of 
low  income.  Inquiry  made  of  the  Underwriters'  Association  of  the 
District  of  Columbia  shows  that  the  annual  premium  on  f  100  worth 
of  furniture  (in  a  brick. house)  is  15  cents  per  year  when  paid  for 
a  period  of  five  years. 

Insurance  on  ."^1,000  worth  of  furniture,  which  would  be  about  the 
average  value  of  furniture  of  the  type  of  family  had  in  mind  in  this 
study,  would  be  $1.50. 
Car  fare,  900  rides ?45 

There  are  numy  Government  employees  in  Washington  who  live 
so  near  their  offices  that  car  fare  is  an  expense  that  need  rarely 
be  incurred.  On  tlie  other  hand,  the  large  area  covered  by  the  city 
and  its  suburbs  makes  it  absolutely  necessary  for  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  employees  to  ride  to  and  from  their  work,  and  for 
another  portion  to  ride  at  least  a  part  of  the  time.  In  view  of  this, 
it  seems  reasonable  to  allow  the  husband  two  car  rides  ])er  day  for 
each  working  day,  or  600  rides  in  total. 

Approximately  three  trips  jier  week  on  the  street  car  have  been 
allowed  for  the  wife  and  children.  Local  open  markets  within  easy 
walking  distance  are  available  to  conifiaratively  few  families  in 
Washington,  and  many  who  walk  one  way  must  take  a  car  home  after 
the  market  basket  has  been  filled.  In  addition  to  this,  the  mother 
of  three  children  will  need  to  make  occasional  trips  to  the  stores  in 
the  central  part  of  the  city  to  purchase  clothing  for  the  family,  and 
it  will  be  necessarv  usuallv  for  her  to  take  with  her  the  2  and  5- 
year-old  children,  involving  two  car  fares.  It  is  assumed  that  the 
children  will  be  able  to  walk  to  and  from  school. 

Comi>utation  of  the  cost  of  street  car  fare  has  been  made  on  the 


28 

basis  of  tlio  n-cont  fare,  as  no  iclialilc  data  exists  as  to  the  use  of 
transfeis,  for  which  a  rharjje  of  2  cents  is  made  in  Washington. 

Amusements  and  recreation $20 

The  inijiortance  of  ici  rcatioii  as  a  factor  in  healtliy  living  need 
not,  of  course,  he  eiuj)hasized.  It  is  accepted  as  an  everyday  fact. 
The  only  (piestion  is  as  to  the  character  and  cost  of  such  recreation. 
Much  wholesome  amusement  arises  naturally  within  the  circle  of  a 
family  and  its  friends  and  costs  nothing.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
comi»lexity  of  modern  city  life  places  a  money  price  on  many  simple 
and  desirable  forms  of  amusements.  Thus  a  picnic  for  a  family,  or 
a  visit  to  the  park,  involves  a  considerable  item  of  car  fare,  while  a 
trip  on  the  river  will  cost  a  dollar  or  more.  Moreover,  occasional 
visits  to  the  moving  jtictures  are  to  be  exjiected  of  at  least  some 
members  of  a  family.  Thus,  even  though  the  more  expensive  forms 
of  amusement  and  recreation,  such  as  summer  vacations,  are  elinii- 
nated,  some  expenditures  for  this  item  are  absolutely  necessary  if  a 
family  is  not  to  lead  a  completely  isolated  life. 

It  is  impossible,  however,  to  establish  quantity  standards  for 
amusements  and  recreations.  The  most  reasonable  method  would, 
therefore,  seem  to  be  to  use  as  a  guide  the  average  amount  expended 
by  families  of  Government  employees.  A  special  investigation  of 
exi)enditures  of  (>4  families  of  (lovernment  employees  in  Washington 
shows  that  their  average  exj)enditure  for  amusements  and  recreation 
during  the  year  ending  July  31,  1919,  amounted  approximately  to 
f20.  On  the  average  these  families  had  exi)ended  a  similar  amount 
on  vacations,  but  no  allowance  for  vacation  has  been  made  on  this 
budget. 

Newspapers  1  daily  newspaper,  $8.40 

A  newspaper,  daily  and  Sunday  issues,  is  i)laced  in  the  budget 
because  it  is  desirable  that  every  citizen  should  read  a  daily  paper. 
In  addition,  the  modern  newspaper  offers  a  variety  of  literary  an«l 
educational  features  at  a  minimum  expense. 

No  allowance  is  made  for  magazines  or  books,  not  because  the 
reading  thereof  is  not  desirable,  but  because  a  family,  forced  to 
careful  economy,  may  avail  itself  of  the  ])ublic  libraries  for  all  forms 
of  literature. 

The  yearly  subscrijttion  rates  of  the  Washington  newspapers  vary 
slightly,  with  fS.40  as  the  minimum.  It  is  felt  that  the  maximum 
should  be  allowed  in  order  to  permit  the  reader  his  choice  of  news- 
I)apers. 

Organizations,  such  as  the  church  and  labor  unions,  play  such  an 


29 

important  part  in  the  life  of  the  avei'age  worker  and  his  family 
that  some  expenditure  on  this  account  must  be  rejjarded  as  essential 
to  normal  living.  In  the  present  budget  expenditures  for  this  [)ur- 
pose  are  accepted  as  necessary  for  the  majority  of  families  only  in 
the  case  of  the  church  and  labor  organizations;  membership  in  other 
organizations,  such  as  the  Red  Cross  Society,  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  and  social  clubs  may  be  very  desirable,  but 
cannot  be  regarded  as  necessary  for  a  family  with  low  income. 

(a)  Church  and  other  religious  organizations $13 

Membership  in,  or  regular  attendance  at  a  church  almost  compels 

contributions  in  one  form  or  another.  Not  to  be  able  to  contribute 
usually  makes  the  individual  feel  so  "uncomfortable"  that  he  feels 
unwilling  to  attend  church  or  to  send  hs  children  to  Sunday  school. 
Just  what  the  minimum  desirable  contribution  should  be  is  difficult 
to  determine.  In  any  case,  a  family  contribution  of  2o  cents  a  week 
would  seem  to  be  a  bare  minimum. 

(b)  Labor  organizations $10 

Membership  in  a  labor  organization  always  involves  contributions 

to  its  support  in  the  form  of  dues.  The  amount  of  these  dues  varies 
according  to  the  organization.  The  craft  unions  to  which  many 
employees  in  the  navy  yard  and  other  mechanical  divisions  belong 
have  as  a  rule  considerably  higher  dues  than  the  clerical  workers' 
organizations.  In  the  absence  of  other  data,  it  would  seem  that  the 
most  reasonable  method  of  arriving  at  a  minimum  allowance  for  this 
purpose  would  be  to  use  as  a  guide  the  average  amount  actually 
paid  for  labor  organization  dues  by  Government  employees.  An 
investigation  on  this  point  showed  the  average  expenditure  on  labor 
organizations  by  64  families  of  Government  employees  in  Washing- 
ton during  the  past  year  to  have  been  flO.OS. 

Incidentals    «52 

In  addition  to  the  expenditures  listed  above  there  are  a  large 
number  of  other  items,  mostly  small  or  occasional,  which  cannot  be 
entirely  avoided  by  a  family — such,  for  instance,  as  moving  ex- 
penses, burial  exjienses,  stationery  and  postage,  telephoning  or  tele- 
graphing at  times,  patriotic  contributions,  and  charity.  Also  a  fcAV 
minor  comforts — such,  perhaps,  as  tobacco — are  almost  in  the  cate- 
gory of  necessities  for  certain  people.  No  minimum  quantities  for 
these  items  can  possibly  be  specified.  The  only  solution  is  to  grant 
a  modest  sum  of  money  as  a  ma-ximum  to  cover  expenditures  for  all 
incidentals. 

The  amount  gi-anted  by  this  budget  is  ?1  per  week. 


30 


U 

COST  OF  THE  WASHINGTON,  D.  C,  BUDGET  IN  VARIOUS 
BITUMINOUS  COAL  MINING  COMMUNITIES 

At  tlic  r(<iuist  of  thr  Hit uininoiis  Coal  Coininission,  the  United 
States  Jinrcaii  of  Labor  Statistics  in  the  early  part  of  1920  made  a 
special  stndji  of  prices  in  a  ntnidxr  of  J)itiiiiiinoiis  coal  mining  toirns 
in  order  to  del<iiiiine  the  cost  of  the  budget  prerioiislij  prepared  by 
the  Bureau  for  a  dorernment  employee's  family  in  Washington 
when  applied  to  the  comlitions  in  coal  mining  towns.  In  doing  so, 
it  Has  assumed  that  the  same  general  standards  should  apply  to  the 
miner's  family  as  to  the  Government  employee's  family,  hut  modi- 
fications u'crc  made  to  jneet  peculiar  conditions,  such  as  climate, 
the  need  of  the  mine  n'orker  for  special  work  clothes,  etc.  Part  of 
the  material  obtained  in  this  inrestigation  was  arailcd  of  by  Pro- 
fessor Ogburn  in  jtrcparing  his  budget  for  bituminous  mine  worke^rs. 

The  full  report  of  the  study  is  very  volu)ninous  and  necessarily 
involves  much  repetition,,  as  each  town  is  treated  separately.  For 
this  reason  and  also  because  the  general  results  are  not  very  different 
from  those  arrived  at  by  Professor  Ogburn,  only  the  summary  of  the 
reports  is  reproduced  below. 

The  investij>;a1ions  of  tlio  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  iuto  the  cost 
(»f  livinjf  in  hituniinous  coal  mining  communities  have  been  centered 
about  eight  coal-producing  towns.  These  towns  were  Unionto.wn, 
Pa. ;  Barncsboro,  Pa. ;  Carnegie,  Pa. ;  Clarksburg,  W.  Va. ;  Nelson- 
ville,  Ohio;  <'linton.  Tnd.:  Pana,  111.,  and  Belleville,  111. 

Roughly  divided,  tlicsc  eight  communities  fall  into  two  main 
regions — the  Eastern  or  Pennsylvania  coal  field,  represented  by 
Uuiontown.  Barnesboro,  Carnegie,  and  Clarksburg,  and  the  Western 
or  Central  <  ual  tield,  lepresented  by  Nelsonville,  Clinton,  Pana,  and 
Belleville. 

In  order  lo  secure  data  on  tlie  cost  of  living  in  these  coal  mining 
towns,  two  or  thrw  agents  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  were 
sent  to  each  town  during  the  months  of  January  and  February, 
11)20.  On  a<count  of  the  limited  time  for  making  the  investigation, 
the  agents  could  spend  only  a  few  days  in  each  town,  but  in  this 
time  as  comj>lete  data  as  i)ossible  were  secured  on  the  cost  of  all 
the  major  items  in  the  budget  of  the  coal  miner's  family.  Prac- 
tically every  coalmining  community  included  in  the  survey  was 
made  up  of  small  mining  towns,  in  some  of  which  living  conditi(ms 
were  found  to  b«'  (piite  separate  and  distinct  from  the  main  town. 
These  points  could  not  be  covered  in  detail  in  a  brief  survev.     An 


31 


attempt  was  made,  therefore,  to  secure  as  nearly  as  possible  a  com- 
j)Osite  of  each  community,  and  to  present  the  material  in  such  form 
that  the  general  condition  foi'  the  districts  as  a  whole  may  be 
shown. 

From  the  data  secured  by  agents  in  the  field,  the  ap{»roximate 
cost  of  a  health  and  decency  budget  for  the  family  of  a  coal  miner 
has  been  worked  out.  As  in  j)revious  studies,  the  family  for  wlii<ii 
the  budget  has  been  prej)ared  consists  of  five  persons — husband, 
wife,  and  three  children,  boy  aged  11.  girl  5.  and  boy  2.  or  'AM~> 
e<iuivalent  adult  males. 

The  tentative  quantity  budget  prepared  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor 
►Statistics  in  August,  1919,  as  necessary  to  maintain  a  family  of 
five  in  Washington,  D.  C,  at  a  level  of  health  and  decency,  has  been 
taken  as  the  quantity  basis  for  the  budget  of  the  miner,  with  such 
changes  and  adjustments  as  were  necessary  to  make  the  budget 
applicable  to  the  family  of  a  miner  living  in  small  coal  towns.  The 
cost  of  the  quantity  budget  thus  determined  for  miners  has  been 
computed  on  actual  prices  secured  by  agents  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor 
Statistics  in  the  coal  communities. 

Considerable  information  has  been  secured  locally  on  the  habits 
and  customs  of  miners'  families,  and  the  budget  has  been  made  to 
conform  to  such  of  these  as  were  felt  to  be  consistent  with  health 
and  decency. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  major  items  oi  expense  in  itie 
eight  coal  towns  included  in  the  survev : 


Pennsylvania  Coal  Field. 

Union  town, 
Pa. 

Barnesboro, 
Pa. 

Carnegie, 
Pa. 

Clarksburg, 
W.  Va. 

Food    

$788.18 

454.30 

90.00 

26.00 

556.52 

$803.50 

480.73 

96.00 

57.80 

556.52 

$793.56 

494.53 

120.00 

41.00 

556.52 

$826.91 
461.38 

Clothing    

Rent    

180  00 

F\iel  and  light 

35  00 

Miscellaneous    

556.52 

Additional  amount  for  rent'.... 

$1,915.00 
150.00 

$1.994  55 
144.00 

$2,005.61 
120.00 

$2,059.81 
60.00 

Total 

$2,065.00 

$2,138.55 

$2,12561 

$2.119  81 

32 


Central  Coal  Field. 

Nelsonville, 
Ohio. 

Clinton, 
Ind. 

Pana, 
IlL 

Belleville, 
lU. 

Food                

$825.12 

500.01 

180.00 

41.00 

556.52 

$758.75 

503.23 

180.00 

53.00 

556.52 

$727.84 

469.43 

180.00 

50.60 

556.52 

$715.87 

Clothing    

475.21 

Rent                 

180.00 

Fuel  and  light 

57.80 

Misopllaneous     

556.52 

Additional  amount  for  rent'.... 

$2,102.65 
60.00 

$2,051.50 
60.00 

$1,984.39 
60.00 

$1,985.40 
60.00 

Total  

$2,162.65 

$2,111.50 

$2,044.39 

$2,045.40 

'This  is  the  estimated  additional  amount  necessary  to  obtain  housing  of  the  stand- 
ard set  by  the  Washington,  D.  C,  Budget. 


33 


III 

BUDGET  FOR  BITUMINOUS  COAL  MINE  WOKERS 

Prepared  by  Puofessou  Wm.  F.  Ogburx. 

At  the  request  of  the  United  Mine  Workers  of  America,  Professor 
Wm.  F.  Oghurn  of  Colinnhia  Universitij  drew  up  and  suhmitted  to 
the  Bitiuninotts  Coal  Commission,  in  January,  11)20,  a  quantity  and 
cost  budget  specifically  for  hit umi nous  mine  workers.  The  folloic- 
ing  condensation  of  the  original  memorandum  has  been  approved 
by  Professor  Oghurn: 

The  quantity  budget  worked  out  by  the  United  States  Bureau  of 
Labor  Statistics  in  August,  1919,  has  been  priced  in  certain  coal- 
mining regions,  the  theory  being  that  what  is  a  standard  of  health 
and  decency  for  families  of  Government  employees  should  in  its 
main  outlines  also  be  the  standard  of  health  and  decency  for  fami- 
lies of  mine  Avorkers.  The  prices  of  the  various  items  may  be  dif- 
ferent in  coal-mining  centers  in  1920  from  the  prices  in  Washington 
in  1919.  There  may  also  be  some  variation  in  the  standard;  the 
miners  need  more  food  and  their  clothing  requirements  are  differ- 
ent But  the  main  purpose  borne  in  mind  was  this — to  determine  a 
standard  of  living  in  coal-mining  communities  necessary  for  health 
and  decency,  based  on  a  determination  of  this  standard  by  the 
Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  for  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  i)rices  used  in  making  out  the  cost  here  submitted  were 
obtained  by  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics.  That 
Bureau  already  had  in  its  possession  considerable  data  regarding 
prices  in  certain  mining  towns,  but,  in  order  that  the  data  might 
be  entirely  up  to  date,  the  Bureau  was  requested,  through  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Commission,  to  make  a  supplemental  inquiry.  The 
request  was  granted,  and  agents  were  sent  out.  In  view  of  the  very 
short  time  available,  however,  the  investigation  had  to  be  limited  to 
two  districts.  One  of  these  was  the  Uniontown  district,  south  of 
Pittsburgh;  the  other  was  the  community  of  Pana,  111. 

It  is,  of  course,  realized  that  these  two  localities  are  not  a  very 
large  sample  and  may  not  be  adequately  representative  of  the  coal- 
mining districts.  In  making  up  the  budget,  therefore,  a  slavish 
following  of  averages  of  the  prices  obtained  has  not  been  adhered  to, 
but  considerable  consideration  has  been  given  to  the  question  of  the 
accuracy  of  the  sample. 

In  judging  the  adequacy  of  the  data  obtained,  for  instance,  it 
ife  clear  that  the  information  relating  to  house  rents  secured  from 


34 

the  Uni(»nto\vn  aud  Pana  districts  would  not  be  entirely  satisfac- 
tory. This  would  also  be  true  of  street  car  fare.  More  representa- 
tive data  would  also  be  needed  in  determining  })rices  paid  for  coal, 
gas.  electricity,  and  certain  other  items. 

The  budget  estimates,  therefore,  have  not  been  based  solely  ui)on 
the  Tana  and  Tniontown  material.  Fortunately,  in  the  tiles  of  tl*e 
Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  there  are  a  good  many  family  schedules 
showing  i»rices  and  quantities  as  of  the  year  11)18  in  a  number  of 
small  towns  in  those  districts.  The  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  has 
very  kindly  put  these  records  at  our  disposal,  and  from  these  data 
it  was  possible  to  formulate  a  fair  idea  of  general  conditions  in  such 
matters  as  street  car  fare,  house  rents,  gas  and  electricity  prices, 
which  could  not  have  been  derived  from  the  information  secured  in 
the  two  localities  only. 

The  estimate  of  the  standard  of  living  as  here  submitted  has, 
therefore,  been  made  i)0ssible — 

First,  by  using  a  previously  determined  standard  of  health  and 
decency ; 

Second,  by  immediate  field  investigations  in  two  mining  commu- 
nities, and. 

Third,  by  using  records  jueviously  collected  by  the  Bureau  of 
Labor  Statistics  from  a  much  larger  number  of  centers  in  the  coal 
fields. 

Summary  of  Budget. 

Following  the  methods  of  computation  above  outlined,  the  fol- 
lowing results  are  obtained  as  to  the  cost  of  maintaining  a  miner's 
family  at  a  level  of  health  and  decency,  at  prices  now  prevailing 
(i.  e..  December,  1919). 

Food  (when  computed  on  the  basis  of  the  husband  being  engaged  in 
light    work) $768.60 

Additional  food  needed  when  husband  is  engaged  at  heavy  work 32.78 

Clothing: 

Husband    $146.81 

Wife    130.92 

Boy,  11  years 77.40 

Girl,  5  years 66.13 

Boy,  2  years 34.00 

455.26 

Rent    216.00 

Fuel  and  light 70.00 

Miscellaneous    576.30 

$2,118.94 

Saving  on  garden,  chickens,  etc 15.00 

$2,103.94 
Explosives,  smithing,  etc 40.00 

Total .$2,143.94 


35 


Itemized  Details  of  Budget. 


For  a  family  of  five  in  two  bituminous  mining  towns  (Pana,  111., 
and  rnionto\STi,  Pa.). 

I.    FOOD. 


Item. 


Meat    

Fish    

Dairy  products 

Lard    

Eggs    

Cereals    

Starch    group 

Sugar    group 

Fruits,    fresh 

Fruits,    dried 

Fruits,    canned 

Vegetables,    fresh 

Vegetables,    dried 

Vegetables,   canned 

Vegetable    oil 

Miscellaneous  vegetable   food 

Mixed    fats 

Miscellaneous    items 

Ice    

Total 


Cost  per  Item. 

Annual. 

Weekly. 

$134.86 

$2.59 

22.29 

.43 

155.38 

2.99 

12.48 

.24 

46.97 

.90 

130.50 

2.52 

.89 

.02 

44.88 

.86 

42.33 

.81 

8.89 

.17 

4.32 

.08 

87.31 

1.68 

6.35 

.12 

5.85 

.11 

8.68 

.17 

5.86 

.11 

9.84 

.19 

28.92 

.56 

12.00 

.23 

$768.60 


$14.78 


II.     CLOTHING. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Husband. 


Hat,  felt 

Hat,  straw 

Suit,  winter  wool. . 
Suit,  summer  wool. 

Overcoat   

Raincoat    

Shirts,  cotton 


Union  suit,  summer. 
Union  suit,  winter.. 

Pajamas   

Socks,  cotton 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


1 

$4.00 

% 

$2.00 

2.75 

1 

2.75 

40.00 

% 

20.00 

35.00 

% 

8.75 

12.25 

Ve 

2.04 

1.75 

5  work 

8.75' 

2.00 

1  dress 

2.00, 

1.75 

3 

5.25 

3.75 

2 

7.50 

1.50 

1            1 

1.50 

.50 

1             8 

4.00 

36 


II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


Socks,  wool 

Shoes : 

High,  work 

Low,  dress 

Shoe  repairing: 

Half  soles  and  heels. 

Rubbers   

Gloves,  leather  work .... 

Collars   

Ties   

Handkerchiefs   

Garters    

Belt   

Suspenders   

Umbrella   (cotton) 

Cleaning  and  pressing.... 

Miscellaneous    

Special : 

Work  trousers 

Overalls   

Jumper   

Miner's  cap 

Articles   

Sweater   


Total. 


$0.75 

5.00 
5.25 

2.00 

1.25 

1.25 

.25 

.75 

.20 

.35 

.75 

.75 

1.75 

1.25 


3.00 
2.50 
2.75 
.50 
1.75 
8.50 


4 
4 


1/2 


1/2 


3 

6 

2 
8 
2 

1 

2 


Vz 


Vs 


3 
4 
2 
2 
1 
1 


$3.00 

20.00 
2.63 

4.00 

.63 

3.75 

1.50 

1.50 

1.60 

.70 

.38 

.75 

.58 

2.50 

3.00 

9.00 
10.00 
5.50 
1.00 
1.75 
8.50 


$146.81 


II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


Wife. 

(Summer   Clothing) 

Hat 

Wash  Skirt 

Waist  (cotton)  made  at  home 

Waist,  dress 

Dresses  (cotton,  thin)  made  at  home 

Underwear  (union  suits) 

Petticoat,  muslin 

Shoes,  low 

Gloves,  cotton  

(Winter  Clothing) 

Hat 

Suit 

Dress,  wool  serge 

Coat,  wool 


$7.25 

1 

3.00 

1/2 

1.75 

3 

5.25 

V2 

2.70 

2 

1.13 

3 

1.50 

1 

5.50 

1 

.75 

1 

8.75 

1/2 

37.50 

V2 

25.00 

1/2 

37.50 

1/3 

$7.25 
1.50 
5.25 
2.63 
5.40 
3.39 
1.50 
5.50 
.75 


4.38 
18.75 
12.50 
12.50 


II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Petticoat,  dark  cotton 

Underwear  (union  suit,  heavy  cotton) 

Shoes,  high 

Gloves,  kid 


(Year-Round  Clothing) 

House  dresses  

Apron,  kitchen 

Corset   (standard  make) 

Corset  covers  

Brassiers 

Nightdresses  

Kimona 

Stockings,  cotton 


Shoe  repairing: 

New  heels 

Half  soles  and  heels. 


Handkerchiefs 

Umbrella 

Rubbers  or  artics.... 
Cleaning  and  pressing. 
Miscellaneous 


Total. 


2.75 
.60 

2.75 
.75 
.50 

2.00 

2.00 
.40 


.35 
1.25 

.20 
2.00 
1.25 
1.50 


2 
1 
1 
3 

2 
2 


3 
1 


% 


5.50 
.60 

2.75 
2.25 
1.00 
4.00 
1.00 
3.20 


1.05 
1.25 

1.60 
.67 
1.25 
1.50 
8.00 


$130.92 


II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Boy — 11  years  of  age. 

Caps  or  hats 

Suit,   wool 

Pants,  separate  (part  wool) 

Pants,  separate,  summer 

Overcoat    

Overalls    

Shirts  or  blouses,  cotton 

Summer  underwear  or  union  suit. 
Winter  underwear  or  union  suit. 

Pajamas    

Stockings    

Shoes: 

High    

Low    

Shoe  Repairing: 

Half  soles  and  heels 


$0.90 

10.50 

2.50 

1.75 

13.50 

1.50 

.90 

1.25 

1.50 

1.25 

.50 

3.50 
2.50 

1.50 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


2 
1 
1 

2 

1 

1 
5 
3 
2 
2 
12 

3 
2 


Yearly  cost. 


$1.80 
10.50 
2.50 
3.50 
6.75 
1.50 
4.50 
3.75 
3.00 
2.50 
6.00 

10.50 
5.00 

7.50 


38 


II.     CLOTHING -Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 

! 

Unit  price. 

1 

Replace- 
ment per 
year. 

Yearly  cost. 

Rubbers  

1 

11.00 
.75 
.25 
.50 
.10 
.25 
.50 

1 
2 
3 
2 
6 
2 

$1.00 
150 

Gloves  or  mittens 

Collars    

75 

Ties    

1  00 

Handkerchiefs    

60 

Garters    

50 

Belt    

25 

Miscellaneous   

1  00 

Sweater    

3.00 

V2 

1  50 

Total 

$77.40 

II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


Girl — 5  years  of  age. 

Hat,  summer 

Cap,  stockings 

Dresses,  cotton  

Dresses,  wool 

Hat,    winter , 

Apron     , 

Coat  

Sweater 

Cotton  petticoats: 

Muslin , 

Outing  flannel 

Summer  underwear: 

Union  suits , 

Underwaists , 

Winter  underwear: 

Union  suits , 

Night  dresses: 

Muslin 

Outing  flannel 

Stockings,    cotton 

Shoes : 

High 

Low 

Rubbers  .  

Mittens  

Handkerchiefs 

Garters  

Miscellaneous   


$4.00 

.90 

1.30 

3.50 

4.00 

.60 

11.25 

4.00 

1.00 
.90 

.90 
.50 

1.25 

.90 
.90 
.40 

3.50 
3.00 
.75 
.50 
.10 
.20 


Total. 


¥2 

% 

L 

1/2 
1/2 


2 
1 

4 
4 


1 

1 

12 

3 
3 
1 
1 
6 
2 


$4.00 
.90 
7.80 
1.75 
1.60 
.60 
5.63 
2.00 

2.00 
.90 

3.60 
2.00 

2.50 

.90 

.90 

4.80 

10.50 
9.00 
.75 
.50 
.60 
.40 
2.50 

$66.13 


39 


II.     CLOTHING— Continued. 


Article  of  clothing. 


Unit  price. 


Replace- 
ment per 
year. 


Yearly  cost. 


Boy — 2  years  of  age. 
Hats  or  Caps: 

Hat,    duck 

Cap    

Dresses,  cotton  (suits,  overalls,  rompers) , 

Overcoat    

Sweater    

Summer  Underwear: 

Undershirts    , 

Drawers,    muslin 

Underwaists    

Winter  Underwear: 

Undershirts    

Drawers    

Night  Dresses: 

Muslin    

Outing    fiannel 

Stockings  and  socks,  cotton 

Shoes: 

High    

Low    (sandals) 

Mittens    

Garters    

Miscellaneous    


$0.65 

.75 

.70 

6.00 

3.00 

.50 
.50 
.50 

.75 
.75 

.75 

1.00 

.35 

2.25 

1.50 

.35 

.20 


Total. 


1 
1 

8 


% 
% 


3 
3 
4 

2 
2 

1 

1 
10 

2 

2 
1 
2 


$0.65 

.75 

5.60 

3.00 

1.50 

1.50 
1.50 
2.00 

1.50 
1.50 

.75 
1.00 
3.50 

4.50 

3.00 

.35 

.40 

1.00 


$34.00 


III.     HOUSING. 


Rent 

P^iel  and  light 

Total... 


$216.00 
70.00 

$286.00 


IV.     EXPLOSIVES,  TOOLS  AND  SMITHING. 


Cost  of  explosives,  per  year 

Mine  lamp  (maintenance  per  year) 
Smith  charges,  per  year 

Total 


$120.00 
10.00 
10.00 

$140.00 


40 


V.     MISCELLANEOUS. 


Upkeep  of  house,  furniture  ahd  furnishings 

Laundry  work  and  assistance  in  domestic  service 

Cleaning,  supplies  and  services 

Health 

Insurance: 

(a)  Life  (disability) 

(b)  Furniture 

Carfare  

Amusements  and   recreation 

Newspapers,  magazines  and  books 

Organizations: 

(a)  Church 

(b)  Fraternal 

(c)  Labor 

Incidentals 

Total 


$70.00 

100.00 

33.00 

80.00 

138.80 

1..50 

15.00 

20.00 

13.00 

13.00 
10.00 
30.00 
52.00 

$576.30 


41 


REMARKS  ON  THE  ITEMS  OF  THE  BUDGET. 

I.     Food. 

Food  requirements  have  been  the  most  carefully  and  accurately 
studied  of  any  of  the  needs  of  man,  and  since  food  constitutes  the 
largest  single  item  in  the  budget,  it  is  of  great  importance  to  get 
The  food  estimates  as  accurate  as  j)0ssible. 

The  most  common  unit  for  the  measurement  of  food  is  the  calorie, 
which  is  a  unit  of  energy.  Food  is  energy  to  the  human  machine 
just  as  coal  is  energy  in  the  furnace.  A  man  of  average  age,  weight 
and  stature,  at  moderate  muscular  labor,  is  supposed  to  need  ap- 
proximately 3,500  calories  a  day.  If  3,500  calories  a  day  are  pur- 
chased, probably  10  per  cent  will  be  wasted  before  eaten,  and  per- 
'  haps  a  small  percentage  as  actually  consumed  will  not  be  utilized 
by  the  system,  so  that  out  of  the  3,500  calories  as  bought  probably 
only  3,100  will  actually  be  used  by  the  body. 

The  food  needs  of  the  family  are  estimated  in  like  proportion,  a 
woman  consuming  0.0  as  much  as  a  man,  a  boy  of  eleven  0.9,  a  girl 
of  five  0.4,  and  a  boy  of  two  0.15.  The  food  budget  used  in  the  Wash- 
ington study  for  a  Government  clerk's  family  is  calculated  to  pro- 
duce 3,500  calories  per  man  per  day  for  a  family  of  this  size.  This 
is  hardly  adequate  for  a  miner,  as  his  work  involves  the  expenditure 
of  more  energA',  doubtless,  than  the  man  engaged  in  average  muscular 
activity. 

There  seem  to  be  no  records  available  as  to  the  calorie  needs  of 
coal  miners.  Records  made  in  the  training  camps  of  the  Uniteil 
States  })rior  to  transportation  overseas  show  that  the  men  consumed, 
in  the  summer,  about  3,700  calories  and  in  the  winter  3,900.  Men 
working  in  logging  camps,  at  felling  trees  in  the  cold  and  in  the 
open,  consume  as  high  as  (5,000  calories.  It  is  apparently  quite 
conservative  to  add  500  calories  per  day  to  the  food  requirements  of 
a  clerk  in  Washington,  as  exemplified  in  the  accompanying  dietary, 
to  arrive  at  the  food  requirements  of  a  miner.  This  would  mean 
4,000  calories  in  the  food  purchased  for  the  miner,  which  would  have 
to  be  reduced  somewhat,  on  account  of  waste,  to  arrive  at  the  actual 
amount  consumed,  it  being  remembered,  of  course,  that  the  miner 
will  not  work,  on  an  average,  six  whole  days  a  Aveek. 

The  food  budget  presented  here  is  an  average  dietary  made  up 
from  different  sections  of  the  country  and  is,  therefore,  not  peculiar 


42 

1o  any  one  disliicl  <»r  locality.  It  stHMiis  to  be  ill  a  good  many  ways 
a  desirable  standard  to  |»ri<e  in  niininium  quantities.  Perhaps  a 
sinjjle  niininfi  eoniniunity  may  have  ])etuliaiities  of  diet,  but  if  the 
diets  ill  all  t.f  liie  miniiij;  communities  of  the  United  States  could 
be  collected,  very  proliably  they  would  average  out  in  very  nearly 
the  proportions  found  in  the  accomjianying  dietary,  which  is  really 
an  average  of  dietaries  fi-om  various  parts  of  the  country.  There 
may  be  in  the  dietary  certain  arti*-les,  such  as  watermelon  or  sour- 
Uraiit.  which  may  n<»t  be  used  in  a  particular  group  of  miners' 
families,  but  it  is  thought  that  the  amount  of  these  special  types 
of  food  allotted  in  this  dietary  is  so  small  that  it  does  not  invalidate 
its  applicability.  In  other  words,  the  great  bulk  of  the  dietary  is 
made  up  of  stai)les  used  i)robably  in  all  communities. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  this  food  budget  is  a  standard  of 
what  is  desirable.  It  is  really  almost  imi)erative,  for  the  best 
health,  in  families  where  there  are  children,  that  12  ounces  of  milk 
should  be  consumed  per  nuin  per  day.  It  may  be  true  in  some  of 
the  mining  communities  they  do  not  consume  as  much  milk  as  this, 
but  in  a  case  of  this  sort  the  standard  dietary  should  not  be  bound 
to  the  standards  of  local  consumption,  for  nearly  all  food  exjierts 
insist  upon  the  desirability  of  milk  as  an  article  of  diet. 

The  prices  of  the  quantities  of  food  here  listed  were  obtained 
from  stores  in  the  localities  visited  by  the  agents  during  the  latter 
part  of  January,  1920.  Prices  were  secured  from  four  or  five  stores 
in  each  town  and  averaged.  No  single  quotation  was  used.  The 
prices  are,  therefore,  actual  j)rices.  In  some  cases  the  prices  deter- 
mined at  this  time  of  the  year  may  not  be  strictly  accurate,  but  it 
is  thought  that  the  error  is  not  very  large  for  the  year  as  a  whole. 
In  some  cases,  as  it  was  impossible  to  i)rice  a  particular  article  in 
the  community,  the  i)rices  furnished  by  the  P>ureau  of  Labor  Statis- 
tics from  other  places  were  used. 

I  r.     Clothing. 

There  are  certain  measurements  in  food  studies  that  make  object- 
ive tests  of  adequacy  more  accurate  than  in  clothing.  The  standard 
of  clothing  for  health  and  decency,  as  worked  out  in  the  study  of 
the  United  States  Uureau  of  Labor  Statistics  j)reviously  referred  to, 
was  the  result  of  jiainstaking  study  and  a  considerable  amount  of 
investigation.  In  estimating  the  standard  of  clothing,  the  Bureau 
of  Labor  Statistics  made  use  of  its  tabulations  of  clothing  purchases 


43 

by  a  very  large  number  of  families  in  a  great  many  cities,  scattered 
widely  over  the  country. 

It  is  presumed  that  the  wife  does  a  considerable  amount  of  ?ewing 
for  the  children,  and  the  prices  of  a  great  many  of  the  children's 
clothes  are  based  upon  the  cost  of  material  alone.  The  purpo.se  in 
making  this  study  was  to  set  certain  standards,  particularly  of  de- 
cency, and  this  was  arrived  at  after  a  great  amount  of  observation 
and  consultation. 

The  quantities  listed  in  the  budget  are  for  annual  replacements, 
and  it  has  been  assumed  that  the  amounts  listed  will  be  supple- 
mented by  the  "hold-over"'  of  similar  garments  from  the  previous 
year.  In  the  case  of  a  garment  which  mav  reasonably  be  expected 
to  last  over  a  period  longer  than  one  year,  the  annual  amount  has 
been  expressed  in  a  fraction,  i.  e.,  a  coat  to  be  worn  two  years  is 
1/2,  'i  years,  %.  etc. 

This  standard  budget  of  clothing  was  priced  at  several  stores  in 
each  community  visited,  and  the  prices  are  therefore  actual  prices 
of  goods  and  clothing  available  for  purchase  in  these  particular 
localities. 

The  quantities  of  clothing  required  were  varied  slightly  for  miners 
as  contrasted  with  residents  of  Washington,  D.  C,  due  to  the  pecu-  (j 

liar  needs  of  miners.  The  miner  weai*s  more  overalls  and  is  con- 
siderably harder  on  shoes.  He  is  a  great  deal  in  the  damp  and  his 
clothes  come  in  contact  with  the  floor  and  sides  of  the  mine,  so  that 
he  has  certain  special  requirements. 

In  some  few  cases  the  types  of  woolen  goods  priced  in  the  stores 
seem  to  be  considerably  less  in  price  than  such  articles  would  cost 
in  Washington,  and  very  probably  there  may  be  some  difference  in 
quality,  but  this  is  rather  diificult  to  measure.  It  seems  nearly 
impossible,  therefore,  to  keep  the  present  clothing  standard  identical 
with  that  of  the  Washington  study,  but  it  is  not  believed  that  the 
variation  is  very  great. 

III.     Housing,  Fuel  and  Light. 

The  minimum  housing  standard  for  a  family  of  five  has  been  taken 
as  one  of  four  rooms,  bath,  inside  toilet  and  running  water.  Com- 
munities are  observed  to  vary  in  the  types  of  houses  rented.  8ome 
communities  will  have  practically  no  four-room  houses  and  all  five- 
room  ;  others  may  have  no  five-room  houses  and  all  four  or  six- 
room  houses,  so  that  it  seems  slightly  arbitrary  to  set  the  number 
of  rooms  too  rigidly  in  a  standard. 

Houses  also  vary  a  good  deal  in  rent,  according  to  whether  thev 


44 

are  new  or  old  liouscs.  They  diU'er  also  jKtoidiii<;  to  the  size  of  the 
roniniunity.  A  biKlgct,  to  be  most  adequately  api)licable,  therefore, 
should  have  the  item  of  rent  somewhat  variable.  In  other  words, 
when  the  budget  is  applied  to  one  town,  the  rent  may  be  fixed  at  a 
certain  figure,  and  when  ap|)lied  to  another  locality  the  item  of  rent 
may  be  determined  at  a  different  figure.  In  some  of  the  suburbs 
of  IMttsbuigh  the  rent  is  (piite  high,  running  up  to  $25  or  $35  a 
month,  whereas  the  rent  for  some  company  houses  in  very  small 
mining  communities  might  drop  as  low  as  fl2.  Judging  from  the 
rent  schedule  collected  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  in  a  large 
number  of  towns,  very  probably  a  four  or  five-room  house,  with  run- 
ning water,  bath  and  toilet  would  cost  from  |18  to  $20,  roughly 
averaged,  although  jierhaps  a  newcomer  in  the  town  might  not  be 
able  to  get  such  a  house  for  less  than  $25. 

In  some  very  small  mining  towns,  where  the  company  owns  the 
houses,  it  is  possible  to  get  a  four-room  house  for  a  figure  as  low  as 
$7  or  $8  a  month,  but  this  house  will  not  meet  the  standard  require- 
ments of  health  and  decency,  being  without  bath,  inside  toilet  or 
running  water.  In  other  communities  it  is  possible  to  rent  a  fairly 
substantially  built  house  of  five  rooms  for  $12,  but  such  a  house  may 
be  without  running  water,  and  thus  would  not  come  up  to  the  stand- 
ard. If  the  house  with  five  rooms  is  modern  and  has  certain  other 
features  of  modern  equipment,  such  as  gas  and  electricity,  the  rent 
will  very  likely  be  around  $25  or  $30,  so  that  a  figure  of  $18  a  month 
for  rent  for  the  standard  type  house  compatible  with  health  and 
decencv  is  fairlv  conservative. 

Fuel. 

Miners'  families  usually  burn  about  12  or  13  tons  of  coal  a  year, 
somewhat  more  in  this  regard  than  perhaps  the  average  family. 
This  may  be  due  in  part  to  the  fact  that  the  coal  is  purchased  more 
cheaply,  in  part  to  the  fact  that  much  cooking  is  done  with  coal, 
and  perhaps  in  part  to  the  fact  that  the  houses  are  exposed  on  all 
sides.  Also  the  use  of  grates  and  single  stoves  causes  a  greater 
waste  of  heat  than  does  a  furnace. 

The  coal  is  usually  purchased  by  miners,  with  the  exception  of 
certain  communities,  at  somewhat  cheaper  prices  than  others  have 
to  pay.  It  is  difficult  to  set  exact  figures,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
price  depends  upon  local  practices.  Some  mining  companies,  in- 
deed, have  furnished  coal  free,  charging  only  for  the  cost  of  hauling. 
Coal  will  also  vary  in  price  according  to  gi-ade.     But  it  is  thought 


45 

that  an  cvstiuiate  of  |4  per  ion  is  a  fair  average  figure,  taking  into 
consideration  these  variable  elements. 

Fuel  used  for  cooking  also  varies  quite  widely.  A  great  many 
.families  cook  with  coal  and  some  with  gas,  whether  natural  or  manu- 
factured, and  some  families  use  a  little  of  both.  If  gas  is  used  for 
cooking  alone,  i)erhaps  2.5,000  or  30,000  cubic  feet  is  the  average 
amount  used.  This  varies  in  pri<e  from  75  cents  to  |;1.50  per 
thousand. 

Lighting  by  a  great  many  families  in  mining  lowns  is  furnished  by 
kerosene.  Families  using  this  will  probably  consume  50  gallons  a 
year,  or  more,  which  sells  now  around  20  cents  a  gallon.  In  case 
electricity  be  used  for  lighting,  perhaps  200  kilowatt  hours  may  be 
consumed.  '  Monthly  minimums  are  often  set  by  the  companies, 
varying  from  |1  to  fl.oO. 

The  type  of  fuel  used  for  cooking  and  lighting  is  determined,  to 
a  certain  extent,  by  the  kind  of  house  occupied.  If  the  house  be  a 
sanitary  one,  with  modern  equipment,  very  likely  gas  and  electricity 
are  found.  If  gas  be  used  for  cooking,  perhaps  not  quite  so  much 
coal  will  be  consumed. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  set  a  single  figure  for  lighting  and  heating 
where  customs  and  habits  are  so  varied  and  where  the  climatic  con- 
ditions also  fluctuate.  However,  it  is  thought,  judging  from  the 
family  expenditures  observed,  that  |70  for  fuel  and  light,  including 
matches,  kindling,  etc.,  would  be  a  fair  figure. 

IV.    Explosives,  Tools  and  Smithing. 

A  large  number  of  the  miners  are  required  to  pay  oiit  of  their 
wages  a  certain  sum  for  explosives,  equipment  and  maintenance  of 
tools.  In  some  instances  the  company  pays  for  the  explosives,  so  a 
budget  to  be  adapted  to  a  particular  community  would  have  to  be 
varied  in  this  item  for  the  cost  of  explosives  and  supplies.  But 
because  of  the  fact  that  such  a  large  number  of  miners  must  pay 
for  these,  the  items  of  $120  for  explosives,  flO  for  the  mine  lamps 
and  sui)i)lies  and  $10  for  tools'  and  smithing,  being  a  total  of  |140, 
is  listed. 


46 


\'.     Miscellaneous. 

Upkeep  o/  House,  Furniture  and  Furnishings. 

The  following  data  does  not  allow  for  the  initial  furnishing  of 
a  house  with  the  more  durable  articles  of  furniture.  However,  the 
upkeep  of  hous(<  furnishings,  such  as  bedding,  towels,  kitchen  and 
table  ware,  and  also  the  rejdacement  of  worn-out  furniture,  is  a 
necessary  recurring  exi)enditure.  The  amount  allowed  in  the  stand- 
ard budget  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  is  f70,  and  is  the 
estimate  used  for  this  study.  It  is  thought  that  furniture  costs  in 
mining  towns  are  not  exceptional. 

Assistance  in  Domestic  Service. 

In  the  standard  of  health  and  decency  worked  out  for  Washington, 
I).  C,  provision  is  made  for  some  assistance  to  the  housewife.  If 
the  housewife  has  three  dejjendent  children,  does  the  cooking  for 
the  family  and  does  some  of  the  laundry  work  and  the  bulk  of  sewing 
for  the  children,  it  is  very  probable  that  she  w'ill  need  some  assist- 
ance in  all  of  this  work.  Some  mothers  may  get  assistance  in  the 
laundry  work,  others  may  have  a  seamstress  come  in,  and  in  various 
ways  jtersonal  service  of  this  nature  is  required.  It  would  seem 
that  $100  a  year  for  such  assistance  would  probably  conform  to 
standards  of  health  and  decency. 

Cleaning  Supplies  and  Service. 

The  item  for  certain  cleaning  supplies  and  service  is  listed  at 
$33,  and  is,  in  detail,  the  same  as  that  adopted  in  the  Washington^ 
D.  C,  budget. 

Maintenance  of  Health. 

The  item  for  the  maintenance  of  health  is  put  down  as  |80.  Some 
years  ago  it  was  estimated  for  the  country  as  a  whole  at  |!(;0,  which 
included  doctors'  fees,  hospital  services,  medicines,  dentists'  fees 
and  oculists'  fees,  eyeglasses,  etc.  These  prices  have  gone  up  some- 
what, and  the  figure  of  $80  is  probably  conservative.  There  is  cer- 
tainly no  reason  to  believe  that  the  health  conditions  in  mining 
towns  and  of  the  miners'  work  are  better  than  in  other  communities 
and  in  other  lines  of  work. 


47 

Insurance. 

In  the  standard  of  health  and  decency  it  is  estimated  that  the  head 
of  the  family  should  carry  an  ordinary  life  ])olicy  of  .fr),000.  It  is 
a  fact  that  a  fjroat  many  workiiij;-  men  cary  only  industrial  insur- 
ance, but  it  would  certainly  seem  that  it  is  not  asking  too  much  that 
a  man  at  death  should  leave  a  $5,000  policy  as  a  minimum  of  i)ro- 
tection  and  safety,  even  though  in  special  cases  of  death  by  accident 
there  may  be  special  compensation. 

A  good  many  insurance  companies  will  not  write  an  ordinary  life 
insurance  policy  for  miners;  others  will  only  write  them  endowment 
[folicies.  There  are  some  comi)anies,  however,  that  do  write  ordinary 
life  insurance  for  miners.  The  comi)anies  which  have  the  cheapest 
rate  for  miners,  as  contrasted  with  other  risks,  charge  at  least  10 
per  cent  more  for  miners  than  for  the  ordinary  workman.  The  best 
price  quoted  by  one  company  of  excellent  standing  was  |27.76  per 
thousand  for  miners,  which  amounts  to  |13S.80  per  year  for  a  $5,000 
policy.    The  rate  of  this  company  has  been  raised  since  last  summer. 

The  item  for  the  insurance  of  furniture,  which  seems  desirable, 
is  set  down  at  f  1.50. 

Carfare. 

The  amount  allowed  for  carfare  varies  from  locality  to  locality. 
In  a  great  many  mining  communities  a  very  large  percentage  of  the 
miners  do  not  i)ay  carfare  to  their  work  and  back.  In  some  towns, 
however,  there  is  some  use  of  the  street  cars  in  going  to  and  from 
work.  In  the  small  towns  where  there  are  no  street  cars,  sometimes 
the  item  of  car  rides  consists  in  visits  to  nearby  towns  for  shopping 
or  pleasure  purposes,  and  in  such  cases  an  item  is  sometimes  }nit 
down  for  the  wife  and  children.  It  is  assumed  that  in  practically 
all  cases  the  children  walk  to  and  from  school. 

The  most  satisfactory  way  of  estimating  the  items  of  carfare 
would  be  to  vary  it  according  to  the  community  to  which  the  budget 
is  applied,  but  if  a  single  item  is  desired,  as  an  average,  probably 
$15  should  ])roperly  be  placed. 

Amusements  and  Recreation. 

In  earlier  budgets  the  necessity  for  amusements  and  recreation 
wa^  not  appreciated.  The  rise  of  modern  psychology,  however,  has 
demonstrated  their  necessity.  An  item  of  $20  for  amusement  and 
recreation,  which  included  theatres,  movies,  pool,  dances,  etc.,  seems 
very  modest,  indeed,  and  is  the  figure  used  in  the  budget  of  the 
Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics. 


48 

Xetcspapcrs,  Hooks  and  Magazines. 

A  family  liviiij,'  at  a  level  of  deceucy  and  health  should  certaiuly 
have  a  newspaixT  daily  and  Sunday.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  necessity  of 
citizenship.  Inhabitants  of  small  towns  usually  enjoy  a  paper  from 
a  larfier  city,  and  occasionally  a  subscription  to  a  local  paper.  It  is 
thou},dit  that  the  sum  of  fO.UO  would  cover  the  cost  of  newspapers  in 
the  average  community. 

Only  |t4.00  a  year  is  allowed  for  books  and  magazines.  Very  many 
of  the  mining  towns  have  no  public  libraries,  and  there  the  inhab- 
itants, if  they  care  to  read,  are  forced  to  buy  more  of  their  literature 
than  is  necessary  in  larger  cities. 

Organizations. 

Recoi'ds  of  family  budgets  indicate  that  flO  or  |15  a  year  are  spent 
on  religious  organizations.  In  this  budget  |13.00  has  been  allowed 
for  such  expenditures. 

Ten  dollars  a  year  is  allowed  for  fraternal  organizations,  and 
|<30.00  for  labor  unions.  The  trade-unions'  dues  are  a  little  difficult 
to  estimate,  as  there  are  a  number  of  organizations  to  which  the 
members  contribute,  and  there  are  also  occasional  assessments.  The 
rate  also  varies  somewhat  according  to  earnings,  but  it  is  estimated 
that  130.00  will  take  care  of  the  total  annual  contributions. 

Incidentals. 

There  are  also  a  number  of  additional  expenditures,  such  as  mov- 
ing expenses,  burial  expenses,  stationery  and  postage,  occasional 
telephone  and  telegraph  tolls,  jjatriotic  contributions  and  charity.  A 
great  many  also  use  tobacco.  The  total  of  these  probably  amounts  to 
|1.00  per  week  on  the  average. 

Variations  in  Family  Budgets. 

There  always  exist  some  families  Avho  can,  by  unusual  thrift,  luck 
or  skill  in  purchasing,  make  some  savings  over  a  standard  set  for  the 
ordinary  household.  It  would  seem,  however,  that  a  budget  should 
not  be  set  for  such  exceptional  individuals.  There  will,  of  course, 
always  be  variations  also  in  jtrices,  so  that  by  watching  sales  and 
taking  advantage  of  exceptional  opportunities  there  may  be  some 
saving  made  here  and  there. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  the  families  who  having  a  garden  and 
raise  chickens  do  make  some  saving  on  food  costs.  This  saving,  as 
judged  by  a  number  of  family  budgets  that  have  been  collected,  is 


49 

estimated  at  $15.00.  Very  probably  the  other  savitijis  would  not 
amount  to  more  than  5  ]»er  cent  or  10  i)ei'  cent.  This  budget  is  built 
rather  for  the  normal  lamily  and  is  tij^nred  very  dosel}'  as  a  mini- 
mum estimate  of  health  and  decency.  The  prices  are  really  miui- 
mum  prices  for  these  qualities. 

It  should  be  remend)ered  that  such  a  budjijet  is  by  no  uieans  an 
ideal  one.  There  are  no  provisions  for  savings,  other  than  insurance, 
none  for  vacation,  and  the  miscellaneous  expenditures  are  exceed- 
ingly modest. 


50 


IV 


WORKINGMEN'S  STANDARD  OF  LIVING  IN  PHILADELPHIA 

Stidy  Madk  i:v  Tin:  Piiiladeli'hia  Bureau  of  Municipal  Research, 

The  iiill  report  inis  reeenthj  piihli.s-hed  hi/  Mdcniillan  Company, 
Kew  York,  under  (Ik  title:  Workiiu/ineii's  ^itundard  of  Living  in 
Pliiladelphid.  A  rep-.rt  hy  the  Bureau  of  Munieipal  Research  of 
Philadelphia,  M'iUiain  C.  Beyer  in  charge,  Rehekah  P.  Davis  and 
Myra  Thwing,  assistants. 

The  study  had  as  a  principal  ohject  the  deternn nation  of  the  cost 
of  a  standard  of  health  and  comfort  for  tJie  employees  of  the  city 
government.    The  foUoicing  extracts  are  from  Chapter  IV: 

General  Outline  of  the  Standard. 

In  general  outline  the  standard  of  living  suggested  for  the  stand- 
ard family  assumed  in  this  report  is  as  follows: 


Classes  of  Expenditure. 


Cost  per 

Year  at 

autumn  1918 

Prices. 


All  classes 

Specified    standard 

Housing    

Fuel  and  light 

Food    

Clothing    

Carfare    

Cleaning  supplies  and  services 

Unspecified  standard — 21%  of  cost  of  specified  standard 


$1,636.79 

1,352.72 

240.00 

75.00 

660.09 

299.43 

35.40 

42.80 

284.07 


Division  of  the  Standard  into  Specified  and  Unspecified. 


In  so  far  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so,  the  requirements  of  this  stand- 
ard are  set  forth  in  the  following  pages  in  terms  of  actual  goods  and 
services.  Since  these  requirements,  however,  could  not  be  expressed 
throughout  in  actual  goods  and  services,  the  standard  has  been  di- 
vided into  two  sections,  the  specified  section  nnd  the  unspecified  sec- 


51 

tion.  Tn  the  specified  section  are  included  all  items  or  classes  of  tlie 
household  budget  for  which  the  requirements  could  he  set  forth  in 
terms  of  goods  and  services,  and  in  the  unsperifird  section  are  in- 
cluded those  classes  that  could  not  be  set  forth  in  this  manner.  The 
classes  included  in  the  specified  section  are  housing,  fuel  and  light, 
food,  clothing,  carfare,  and  cleaning  supplies  and  services.  These 
constitute  approximately  82  per  cent  of  the  entire  household  budget. 
In  the  unspecified  .section  are  included  health  ;  furniture  and  furnish- 
ings; taxes,  dues  and  contributions;  recreation  and  amusements; 
education  and  reading;  insurance;  and  miscellaneous  expenditures, 
which  together  constitute  the  remaining  18  per  cent  of  the  house- 
hold budget.     *     *     * 

Method  op-  Arriving  at  Cost  of  rxsPKriFiEi)  Section. 

In  arriving  at  the  current  cost  of  the  unspecified  section,  which 
could  not  be  expressed  in  terms  of  goods  and  services,  a  different 
method  had  to  be  adopted.  After  considering  the  problem  carefully 
from  all  angles,  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  for  all  practical  pur- 
poses it  would  be  sufficiently  accurate  to  reckon  the  cost  of  this  sec- 
tion as  a  certain  percentage  of  the  cost  of  the  specified  section.  This 
percentage  should  correspond  with  the  normal  relationship  shown 
by  investigation  to  exist  between  these  two  parts  of  the  working- 
man's  household  budget.  From  our  own  data  it  would  appear  that 
the  unspecified  section  of  the  budget  is  approximately  21  per  cent  of 
the  specified  .section.  This  finding  is  confirmed  by  the  recent  investi- 
gations made  in  different  parts  of  the  country  by  the  U.  S.  Bureau 
of  Labor  Statistics.  In  the  present  instance  the  cost  of  the  specified 
standard  is  .1?1,352.72.  By  adopting  the  method  just  described,  that 
is,  by  taking  21  per  cent  of  this  amount,  we  find  that  the  cost  of 
the  unspecified  standard  is  .?284:.07.  The  cost  of  the  standard  as  a 
whole  equals  the  sum  of  these  two  amounts,  or  $l,(;3t).70.     »     ♦     * 

Housing. 
Requirements  of  a  Fair  S>tandard. 

Annua]    rent $240.00 

Two-story  row  house,  with  six  rooms,  facing  street;  bathroom,  inchjd- 
ing  toilet,  washstand  and  tub;  laundry,  furnace,  and  facilities  for  gas 
cooking  and  lighting. 


52 


Fuel  and  Light. 


Requirements  of  a  F'air  Standard. 


Unit. 

Price  per 

unit. 

Annual 
quantity. 

Annual 
cost 

Total                                 

$75.00 

Pea   coal  

ton 

ton 
1000  cu.  ft. 
box  of  500 

$8.45 

9.90 

1.00 

.06 

2^ 
2% 

26 

52 

$21.13 

Stove   coal 

24.75 

Gas    . .   . .         

26.00 

Matches    

3.12 

In  the  standard  we  are  suggesting  allowances  are  made  for 
the  three  most  frequently  used  and  most  staple  fuel  and  lighting 
supplies,  namely,  coal,  gas,  and  matches.  Electricity,  wood,, candles, 
kerosene,  and  charcoal,  although  all  of  these  were  used  to  a  greater 
or  lesser  extent  by  the  families  invstigated,  have  not  been  considered 
indispensable,  especially  if  an  adequate  quantity  of  the  more  staple 
supplies  is  provided.  Instead,  the  allowances  of  coal,  gas,  and 
matches  were  made  slightly  more  generous  than  the  average  quan- 
tity consumed  as  shown  by  our  data.  It  is  worthy  of  note,  in  this 
connection,  that  while  five  tons  of  coal  is  almost  a  ton  more  than  the 
average  consumption  shown  by  our  data,  yet,  for  a  six-room  house 
it  is  one  ton  less  than  the  standard  of  a  ton  per  room  established  by 
the  Fuel  Administration.  The  quality'  of  coal  selected  conforms  as 
nearly  as  we  were  able  to  judge  to  the  quality  generally  used  by 
workingmen's  families.     *     *     * 


53 


Food. 


Requirements  of  a  Fair  Standard. 


Unit. 

Price 
per  unit. 

Annual 

quantity. 

1                    1 

Annual 
cost. 

Total 

1 

$600.09 

Broad  and  cereals  

$112.19 

Bread         

16  oz.  loaf 
24  oz  doz. 

lb. 

lb. 
pkg. 
12  lb.  bag 
12  oz.  pkg. 

lb. 

lb. 

$ 

.08 
.15 
.23 
.05 
.08 
.75 
.12 
.07 
.13 

988 
52 
13 
26 
13 
13 
13 
52 
39 

$  79.04 

Buns  and  rolls 

7.80 

Cakes   niisc           

2.99 

Cornmeal 

1.30 

Cornstarch  

1.04 

Flour,  wheat 

9.75 

Macaroni 

1.56 

Oatmeal 

3.64 

Rice . 

5.07 

Meats  and  fish                      

$165.23 

Beef-equal  parts  of  brisket,  chuck 
and  round  

lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 

$ 

.38 
.40 
.20 
.20 
.43 

286 
26 
78 
13 

;     65 

$108.68 

Chicken 

10.40 

Fish,  fresh  

15.60 

Fish,  salt 

2.60 

Pork 

27.95 

Meat  substitutes 

$169.00 

Beans,  dried 

ib. 
lb. 
doz. 
qt. 
lb. 

$ 

.17 
.36 
.60 
.15 
.11 

13 
26 

!         78 
1       728 
1         13 

i 

1 

$     2.21 

Cheese 

9.36 

Eggs  

46.80 

Milk,  fresh 

109.20 

Peas,  dried 

1.43 

Shortening  ... 

$  52.00 

Butter  

lb. 
lb. 
lb. 

$ 

.70 
.32 
.36 

1         26 
32.5 
65 

$  18.20 

Lard 

10.40 

Oleomargarine 

23.40 

Fresh  vegetables     

$  66.01 

Cabbage 

2  lb.  head 
2  lb.  bunch 

doz. 
4  oz.  head 

lb. 

pk. 

$ 

.05 
.05 
.20 
.03 

.02y2 

.60 

39 
39 
13 
13 
91 
78 

$     1.95 

Carrots  

1.95 

Corn 

2.60 

Lettuce  

.39 

Onions 

2.28 

Potatoes,  Irish 

46.80 

54 


FOOD— Continued. 


Unit. 


Price 
per  unit. 


Annual 
quantity. 


Annual 
cost. 


Fresh   vefietables 

Potatoes,  sweet  .  . 

Spinach 

String  beans 

Tomatoes 


(continued) 


Pk. 
pk. 
pk. 
pk. 


Canned  vegetables | 

Corn I    19  oz.  can 

Peas I    19  oz.  can 

Tomatoes 19  oz.  can 


Fresh  fruits 

Apples 

Oranges 

Peaches  


Dried  fruits 

Prunes  

Raisins 


Sugars  .  , 

Molasses  .  . 
Sugar,  gran. 


Beverages 

Cocoa 

Coffee 

Tea 


Miscellaneous 

Baking  powder  . 

Ice 

Pickles 

Salt 


pk. 
doz. 
pk. 


lb. 
15  oz.  pkg. 


18  oz  can 
lb. 


$  .60 

.40 
.40 
.48 


%  .17 
.16 
.14 


%  .64 
.30 
.40 


$  .13 
.13 


$    14 

.1014 


8  oz.  can 
lb. 
lb. 


$  .15 
.21 
.48 


2%  oz.  can 
25  lb.  cake 
8  oz.  bottle 
4  lb.  bag 


08  I 

.10  I 

.12  I 

.10  i 


1 
4 
4 

13 


13 
13 
52 


13 
19.5 
6.5 


13 
6.5 


26 
234 


13 
52 
13 


13 

120 

26 

13 


$       .60 

1.60 
1.60 
6.24 

$  11.57 

I     2.21 

2.08 

7.28 

$  16.77 

$     8.32 

5.85 

2.60 


2.54 

1.69 

.85 

28.21 

3.64 

24.57 

19.11 
1.95 

10.92 
6.24 

17.46 
1.04 

12.00 
3.12 
1.30 


Basis  of  alloic^iticcs.  The  food  allowance  in  the  above  standard  is 
based  i)artly  upon  the  scientific  requirements  of  a  workingman's 
family'  of  the  size  we  are  assuming  and  partly  upon  the  actual  food 
habits  of  workingmen's  families  as  indicated  by  the  data  collected 
in  our  investigation. 

The  standard  family  we  are  assuming  and  the  relative  food  re- 
quirements of  its  members,  as  determined  from  the  schedule  of  the 
U.  S.  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  given  on  pages  20-21,  are  as  follows: 


Husband    . . 

Wife    

Boy,  age  13 
Girl,  age  10 
Boy,  age    6 


1.00  unit 
.80    " 
.90    " 
.60    " 
.50    " 


55 

The  entire  family,  therefore,  is  equivalent  in  its  food  needs  to  3.80 
adult  males. 

While  authorities  differ  on  the  food  requirements  of  the  body,  the 
consensus  of  scientific  opinion  seems  to  be  that  a  man  at  moderately 
active  muscular  work  ought  to  have  from  o,0()0  to  o,20()  calories 
daily.*  The  results  of  our  investigation  indicate  that  the  actual 
food  consumption  of  workingmen's  families  conforms  very  closely  to 
these  requirements.  According  to  the  food  estimates  of  all  of  our 
2G0  families,  the  average  quantity  of  food  consumed  per  man  per  day 
was  ?>A~)()  calories.  An  analysis  of  the  food  purchases  of  :U  families 
as  recorded  in  account-books  during  the  period  of  our  field  inquiry 
gives  us  a  corresponding  figure  of  3,025  calories.  The  four  families 
whose  account-book  records  showed  their  food  purchases  during 
1913-14  appear  to  have  had  3,100  calories  per  man  per  day.  In  devis- 
ing the  above  standard,  therefore,  the  food  allowance  per  man  per 
day  has  been  made  3,150  calories. 

It  is  important  also  that  the  food  allowance  provide  a  well-bal- 
anced diet,  and  particularly  that  the  quantity  of  protein  be  adequate. 
Here  again  food  authorities  differ,  but  the  more  general  view  appears 
to  be  that  a  man  at  moderately  active  muscular  work  should  have 
daily  from  100  to  120  grams  of  protein,  from  330  to  500  grams  of 
carbohydrates,  and  from  40  to  90  grams  of  fat.  For  comparison  with 
these  requirements,  the  following  table  shows  the  actual  food  habits 
of  the  different  groups  of  families  included  in  our  investigation : 


I     Carbo- 
Protein.  |  hydrates. 

(Grams)   I   (Grams) 

1 


Fat. 
(Grams) 


Food  estimates  —260  families,  1916-18 |      105.9       i      336.4 

Account-book  records—  31  families,  1917-18 1      100.8       I      415.6 

Account -book  records—    4  families,  1913-14 i       89.9       I      431.8 


92.7 

93.7 

108.9 


The  food  allowance  in  the  above  standard  provides  110,8  gi-ams  of 
protein,  460.4  grams  of  carbohydrates,  and  92.2  grams  of  fat.  *  *  * 


'At  the  Paris  session  of  the  Inter-Allied  Scientific  Food  Commission,  March  25-30, 
1918,  it  was  agreed  to  allow  3,000  calories  for  the  "average  man,"  and  in  addition  to 
allow  10  per  cent  for  waste,  thus  bringing  the  total  allowance  per  man  per  day  up 
to  3,300  calories. 


56 
Clothing. 


Rcc/Kircinriil.s  of  a  Fair  ^SttDidard. 


Price  per 
article. 


Annual 
quantity. 


Annual 
cost. 


Total. 


Total  for  husband 


Caps,  wool  and  cotton  mixture,  30  per  cent  wool, 
lined  or  unlined 

Hats,  soft  or  stiff  felt,  medium  grade 

Hats,  cheapest  straw,  stiff  brimmed 

Sweaters,  60  per  cent  wool 

Overcoats,  overcoating,  40  per  cent  wool 

Suits,  cheviot  or  cassimere,  50  per  cent  wool 

Extra  trousers,  worsted  face,  cotton  back 

Overalls,   denim 

Working  shirts,  cotton  flannel  or  flannelette 

Working  shirts,  cotton  shirting 

Dress  shirts,  printed  madras 

Collars,  stiff  or  soft  washable 

Ties,  silk  and  cotton  four-in-hand 

Suspenders,  cotton  or  lisle  elastic  web 

Belts,  cheap  leather 

Handkerchiefs,    cotton 

Night  shirts  (home-made),  5  yds.  36-inch  muslin, 
thread  and  buttons 

Night  shirts  (home-made),  5  yds.  36-inch  outing 
flannel,  thread  and  buttons 

Summer  underwear,  sets,  Balbriggan 

Winter  underwear,  sets,  25  per  cent  wool 

Socks,  common  cotton 

Shoes,  gun-metal  welt 

Shoe  repairs,  half -soled  and  heeled 

Rubbers,    storm 

Gloves,  knitted  yarn,  75  per  cent  wool 

Garters,  cotton  elastic  web 


Total  for  wife. 


Hats,  plain  velvet,  little  trimming 

Hats,  plain  straw,  little  trimming 

Coats,  Kersey  cloth,  pile  fabric,  cheviot  or  mix- 
tures     

Wash  dresses  (home-made),  6  yds.  36-inch  ging- 
ham or  percale,  thread  and  buttons 

Suits,  wool  poplin,  or  other  material,  50  per  cent 
wool    

Skirts,  serge,  panama  cloth  or  plaid  mixtures 

Shirtwaists  (home-made),  2%  yds.  cotton  voile  or 
lawn,  thread  and  buttons 

Shirtwaists  (home-made),  2^/^  yds.  36-inch  wash- 
able silk,  thread  and  buttons 

Petticoats  (home-made),  3%  yds.  27  or  36-inch 
muslin,  cambric  or  sateen,  thread  and  buttons.. 


$0.75 

1 

2.25 

V2 

1.50 

V2 

5.00 

Vz 

16.50 

% 

16.50 

1 

4.50 

1 

1.50 

2 

1.65 

2 

1.50 

2 

1.50 

2 

.25 

6 

.65 

3 

.50 

1 

.50 

1/2 

.125 

6 

1.00 

1 

1.00 

1 

1.50 

3 

2.30 

1 

.25 

12 

5.50 

2 

1.50 

2 

1.50 

1 

1.00 

1 

.50 

1 

$3.50 

V2 

1.50 

1 

15.00 

V2 

1.75 

21/2 

16.00 

Vz 

5.00 

1 

.75 

3 

2.50 

1/2 

1.50 

2 

$299.43 
$77.68 


$0.75 

1.13 

.75 

2.50 

5.50 

16.50 

4.50 

3.00 

3.30 

3.00 

3.00 

1.50 

1.95 

.50 

.25 

.75 

1.00 

1.00 
4.50 
2.30 
3.00 
11.00 
3.00 
1.50 
1.00 
.50 

$65.78 

$1.75 
1.50 

7.50 

4.38 

8.00 
5.00 

2.25 

1.25 

3.00 


57 


CLOTHING— Continued. 


Price  per 
article. 


Annual 
quantity. 


Annual 
cost. 


Corsets,  standard  make 

Corset  covers,  cambric  with  narrow  embroidered 

or  lace  edging 

Summer  underwear,  cotton  ribbed  union  suits 

Winter    underwear,    winter    weight    cotton   union 

suits I 

Nightgowns  (home-made),  4  yds.  36-inch  nainsook, | 

muslin  or  outing  flannel,  thread  and  buttons ' 

Handkerchiefs,    cotton 

Gloves,  cotton  or  chamoisette 

Aprons  (home-made),  5  yds.  .36-inch  figured  percale 

or  gingham,  thread  and  buttons 

Stockings,  plain  cotton 

Shoes,  gun-metal  welt 

Shoe  repairs,  half -soled  and  heeled 

Rubbers,    storm 


Total  for  boy,  age  13. 


Caps,  wool  and  cotton  mixture,  30  per  cent  wool, 
lined  or  unlined 

Hats,  wool  and  cotton  mixture 

Sweaters,  60  per  cent  wool 

Overcoats,  overcoating,  30  per  cent  wool 

Suits,  60  per  cent  wool,  cassimere,  union  cheviot 
or    suiting 

Extra  trousers,  35  per  cent  wool,  union  cheviot . . 

Extra  trousers,  cotton  khaki 

Blouses  (home-made),  2%  yds.  36-inch  percale  or 
gingham,  thread  and  buttons 

Collars,  stiff  or  soft  washable 

Ties,  silk  Windsor 

Belts,  cheap  leather 

Handkerchiefs,    cotton 

Night  shirts  (home-made),  3%  yds.  36-inch  mus- 
lin, thread  and  buttons 

Night  shirts  (home-made),  3i4  yds.  36-inch  outing 
flannel,  thread  and  buttons 

Summer  underwear,  sets,  Balbriggan 

Winter  underwear,  sets,  winter  weight  cotton, 
fleece-lined    

Stockings,  cotton  ribbed 

Shoes,  gun-metal  welt 

Shoe  repairs,  half -soled  and  heeled 

Rubbers,    storm 

Gloves,  fleece-lined,  cotton  back 

Garters  (home-made),  1  yd.  cotton  elastic  web. . . 


$2.00 

.40 
.75 

1.50 

1.25 
.10 
.75 

1.50 
.25 
5.00 
1.50 
1.00 


$0.75 
1.25 
5.00 

10.00 

8.75 
1.50 
1.00 

.85 
.25 
.30 
.50 
.10 

.90 

.90 
.90 

1.00 

.25 

4.50 

1.50 

1.00 

.75 

.10 


Total  for  girl,  age  10. 


Hats,  tailored  straw 

Hats,  velveteen  or  corduroy 

Sweaters,  worsted  face,  cotton  back. 
Coats,  cheviot,  50  per  cent  wool 


$1.00 
1.25 
2.00 
7.50 


2 
3 


2 
6 
1 

3 
9 
2 
1 
1 


1% 

V2 

11/2 
1 

2 

5 
2 
2 


1 
3 

2 
18 
4 
4 
1 
1 
2 


% 


$2.00 

.80 
2.25 

3.00 

2.50 
.60 
.75 

4.50 
2.25 
10.00 
1.50 
1.00 


$69.04 


$1.13 

.63 

2.50 

5.00 

13.13 

1.50 
2.00 

4.25 
.50 
.60 
.25 
.60 

.90 

.90 

2.70 

2.00 

4.5f 

l&M 

6.00 

1.00 

.75 

.20 

$52.75 

$1.00 
1.25 
2.00 
3.75 


58 


CLOTHING— Continued. 


Price  per 
article. 


Wash  dresses  (homemade),  4%  yds.  36-inch  ging- 
ham or  chambray,  thread  and  buttons 

Petticoats  (homemade),  2  yds.  36-inch  muslin  and 
2%  yds.  lace  or  edging,  thread  and  buttons 

Petticoats  (homemade),  2  yds.  36-inch  outing  flan 
nel,  thread  and  but  tons 

Drawer  waists,  muslin 

Drawers  (homemade),  2  yds.  36-inch  muslin,  thread 
and    buttons 

Union  suits,  cotton,  fleece-Dned 

Nightgowns  (homemade),  3  yds.  36-inch  muslin  and 
1%  yds.  lace  or  edging,  thread 

Nightgowns  (homemade),  3  yds.  36-inch  outing  flan- 
nel, thread  

Handkerchiefs,  cotton 

Gloves,  fleece-lined,  cotton  back 

Stockings,  cotton  ribbed 

Shoes,  gun-metal  welt 

Shoe  repairs,  half -soled  and  heeled 

Rubbers,  storm 

Garters  (homemade),  1  yd.  cotton  elastic  web. . 

Ribbons,  8  yds.  3-inch  silk  face 


Total  for  boy,  age  6. 


Caps,  wool  and  cotton  mixture,  30  per  cent  wool 

Sweaters,  worsted  face,  cotton  back 

Overcoats,  overcoating  or  union  cheviot,  30  per 

cent  wool 

Wash  suits  (homemade),  2i^  yds.  36-inch  percale 

or  gingham,  thread  and  buttons 

Ties,  silk  Windsor 

Handkerchiefs,    cotton 

Nightgowns    (home-made),  3  yds.   36-inch  muslin, 

thread  and  buttons 

Nightgowns    (home-made),    3    yds.    36-inch   outing 

flannel,  thread  and  buttons 

Drawer  waists,  muslin 

Drawers    (home-made),   IVs    yds.    36-inch   muslin, 

thread  and  buttons 

Union  suits,  cotton,  fleece-lined 

Stockings,  cotton  ribbed 

Shoes,  satin  calf,  machine  sewed  or  nailed 

Shoe  repairs,  half -soled 

Rubbers,    storm 

Gloves,  fleece-lined,  cotton  back 

Garters  (home-made),  1  yd.  cotton  elastic  web, 


$1.25 

.90 

.50 
.40 

.40 
1.25 

.75 

.75 
.05 
.75 
.30 
4.00 
.75 
.75 
.10 
.10 


$0.75 
2.00 

5.00 

.75 

$0.25 
.05 

.75 

.75 
.40 

.40 

1.25 
.25 

3.00 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.10 


Annual 
quantity. 


2% 

2 
3 

6 
2 


1 
6 
1 
12 
4 
2 
1 
2 
8 


IVz 
1 


% 


6 
1 
6 


1 
3 

4 
2 
18 
3 
2 
1 
1 
2 


Annual 
cost. 


$10.00 

2.25 

1.00 
1.20 

2.40 
2.50 

.75 

.75 
.30 
.75 

3.60 
16.00 

1.50 
.75 
.20 
.80 

$34.18 

$1.13 
2.00 

2.50 

4.50 

$0.25 

.30 

.75 

.75 
1.20 

1.60 

2.50 

4.50 

9.00 

1.50 

.75 

.75 

.20 


The  specifications  for  the  various  articles  of  clothing  were  decided 
upon  after  consultation  with  clothing  buyers  and  salesmen  in  a  num- 


59 


ber  of  Philadelphia's  downtown  and  ontlyinp:  stores  where  working- 
men  are  accustomed  to  trade.  In  deciding  upon  these  specifications 
it  was  our  endeavor  to  conform  as  nearly  as  possible  to  existing 
standards  of  quality  in  workingmen's  clothing.     ♦     •     » 

Carfare. 


Requirements  of  a  Fair  Standard. 

Total I     $35.40 


Carfare  of  husband  to  and  from  work,  604  rides  @  $0.05. . . . 
Carfare  of  family  for  all  other  purposes,  104  rides  @  $0.05. 


$30.20 
5.20 


Cleaning  Supplies  and  Services. 


Requirements  of  a  Fair  Standard. 


Price 


Annual 
Quan- 
tity 


Annual 
Cost 


Total. 


Specified  requirements. 
Personal   


Toilet  soap,  small  bars I  $0.07 

Tooth    brushes 


35 
50 


t      .25 

Tooth  paste  or  powder,  tubes  or  boxes i      .10 

Combs,  plain  hard  rubber 

Hair  brushes,  wooden  back 

Shoe  polish,  boxes I      .10 

Barber's  services:  ! 

Husband,  shaves  and  haircuts I      .40 

Children,    haircuts I      .25 


Household 


lb.  bars. 


Laundry  soap. 

Starch,    pounds 

Bluing,  pint  bottles 

Clothesline,    yards 

Clothespins,  dozens 

Stove  polish,  boxes 

Furniture  polish,  pint  bottles 

Cleanser,    boxes 

Collars  sent  to  laundry 

Unspecified  requirements,  26  per  cent  of  cost  of  specified 
requirements    


$0.08 
.08 
.10 

.02y2 

.03 
.06 
.25 
.05 
.04 


70 

5 
12 

1 
1 

12 

10 

8 


% 


120 

24 

12 

5 

1 

26 

2 

36 

52 


$42.80 

$33.97 

$15.15 

$  4.90 

1.25 

1.20 

.35 

.25 

1.20 

4.00 

2.00 

$18.82 

9.60 

1.92 

1.20 

.13 

.03 

1.56 

.50 

1.80 

2.08 

$  8.83 


60 
V 

COST  OF  LIVING  AMONG  WAGE-EARNERS  IN  FALL  RIVER, 
MASSACHUSETTS,  OCTOBER,  1919 

Stt'dy  Made  by  the  National  Industrial  Conference  Board. 

The  full  report  was  published  h}/  the  Natio7ial  Industrial  Confer- 
ence Board,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  as  Research  Report  Xumber  22. 
The  foUoicing  is  an  almost  complete  extract  of  the  portions  of  the 
report  dealing  with  the  quant  it}/  budget  and  its  cost  in  October, 
1919: 

The  followiDg  report  summarizes  the  results  of  a  study  undertaken 
to  determine  the  cost  of  maintaining  a  minimum  American  standard 
of  living  in  Fall  River,  Massachusetts,  in  October,  1919,  and  also  the 
cost  of  maintaining  a  somewhat  more  liberal  standard.     *     *     » 

For  the  purpose  of  this  study,  the  cost  of  living  was  estimated  with 
reference  to  the  needs  of  a  man,  his  wife  and  three  children  under 
14  years  of  age.  No  attempt  was  made  to  secure  family  budgets  from 
representative  wage-earners.  In.stead,  the  amount  of  food,  clothing, 
fuel,  heat,  light  and  other  items  needed  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
a  decent  standard  of  living  was  carefully  estimated  on  the  basis  of 
several  budget  studies  made  by  other  authorities,  and  prices  of  these 
various  items  were  obtained.  Thus,  while  the  final  estimate  of  the 
money  cost  of  maintaining  a  definite  standard  of  living  is  not  based 
on  actual  family  expenditures,  but  rather  is  a  hypothetical  budget 
designed  to  maintain  a  hypothetical  family  at  a  specified  standard, 
it  should  closely  approximate  the  true  conditions.  In  practice,  ex- 
penditures for  the  different  items  in  the  budget  may  and  undoubtedly 
will  vary  considerably  to  meet  the  needs  or  tastes  of  individual  fami 
lies,  but  although  the  sums  allowed  for  the  total  cost  of  living  may 
be  distributed  in  a  large  variety  of  ways,  the  averages  given  are  as 
nearly  representative  as  any  that  can  be  reached.  It  should  always 
be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  the  figures  are  averages,  even  though 
they  include  a  large  variety  of  data. 

The  investigation  covered  a  period  of  one  week  in  October,  1919.  A 
study  was  made  of  available  statistical  data  relating  to  Fall  River, 
and  various  sections  or  "villages"  of  the  city  were  visited  to  obtain 
a  picture  of  the  home  surroundings  of  the  people.  The  latter  were 
observed  on  the  street,  as  purchasers  in  stores,  at  work  in  the  mills, 
at  a  dance  for  women  wage-earners,  and,  in  several  instances,  in  their 
own  homes. 


61 


Visits  were  made  to  the  headquarters  of  Ihe  various  .social  and 
community  agencies  of  the  city,  from  which  much  valuable  infoi-ma 
tion  on  the  cost  and  standard  of  living  was  secured.  To  obtain  the 
cost  of  the  various  items  entering  into  the  fanuly  budget  and  the 
increases  in  cost  over  a  five-year  period,  figures  were  collected  from 
retail  food  and  clothing  stores,  coal  dealers,  and  other  corporations, 
associations  and  individuals  in  close  touch  with  the  local  situation. 

Cost  of  Living  in  October^  1919. 

Food. — To  obtain  the  average  cost  of  food,  several  budgets,  includ 
ing  articles  suflScient  for  a  week's  supply  for  a  family  of  man,  wife 
and  three  children,  were  used  as  a  basis.  From  these  were  con- 
structed food  budgets  designed  to  meet  the  requirements  of  a  mini- 
mum standard  and  of  one  slightly  above  the  minimum.  Prices  were 
collected  from  four  of  the  large  down-town  stores,  from  branches  of 
two  different  chain  stores,  one  of  them  represented  by  21  separate 
branches,  and  from  various  neighborhood  grocery  stores:  one  Polish, 
one  Portuguese  and  two  French.  When  there  was  more  than  one 
quality  of  an  article  the  price  used  was  the  lowest  consistent  with 
what  appeared  to  be  good  value.  The  quotations  collected  for  each 
article  were  averaged  and  are  given  in  Tables  1  and  2. 

TABLE  1— MINIMUM  FOOD  BUDGET  FOR  A  WEEK. 


Item  and  amount. 

Cost, 

October, 

1919. 

* 

Item  and  amount. 

Cost, 

October, 

1919. 

Meat  and  Fish 
2  lbs.  flank 

$  .32 
.40 
.21 
.20 
.27 

.61 
.66 
.18 
.41 
2.10 

.77 
.12 
.13 
.14 
.23 
.15 

Fruit 

3  qts.  apples 

3  oranges  

%  .27 
12 

2  lbs.  chuck 

\'2  lb.  bacon 

4  bananas 

15 

1  lb.  dried  cod 

V>  lb.  raisins 

12 

1  can  salmon 

1  lb.  prunes 

.24 

Dairy  Products 
1  doz.  eggs 

Hroad,  Cereals,  etc. 

12  lbs.  bread 

1  28 

1  lb.  butter 

V2  lb.  oleomargarine  or  lard... 

2  lbs.  flour 

1  lb.    cornraeal 

.16 
.07 

1  lb.  cheese 

1  lb.  rice 

16 

14  qts.  milk 

1  lb.  macaroni  .  .  . 

16 

A'egofables 

3  lb.  rolled  oats 

.21 

1%  pks.  potatoes 

3  lbs.  sugar 

.33 

3  lbs.  carrots 

1  pt.  molasses 

.12 

2  lbs.  onions 

Tea,  ("offee,  etc. 

y±  lb.  tea 

3  lbs.  cabbage  

15 

2  lbs.  dried  beans 

1  can  tomatoes 

V2  lb.  coffee  

^/2  lb.  cocoa 

.23 
.22 

Condiments 

Total  weekly  cost 

.11 

$11.00 

62 


From  the  food  budget  itemized  in  Table  1,  which  must  be  regarded 
as  a  minimum,  it  appears  that  the  least  that  can  be  allowed  for  food 
for  a  man,  wife  and  three  childi-en  under  14  years  of  age  in  Fall  River 
in  October,  1919,  is  f  11  a  week. 

TABLE   2— MORE   LIBERAL   WEEKLY    FOOD   BUDGET. 


I 


Item  and  amount. 


Cost, 

October, 

1919. 


Cost, 

October, 

1919. 


i  .27 
.24 
.23 
.12 
.24 

1.28 
.16 
.07 
.16 
.14 
.15 
.08 
.33 
.12 

.15 

.23 
.22 
.17 


Moat  and  Fish 

2  lbs.  flank 

1  lb.  Hamburg 

3  lbs.  leg  mutton 

^  lb.  bacon 

1  lb.  dried  cod 

1  can  salmon 

Dairy  Products 

1  doz.  eggs 

1  lb.  butter 

%  lb.  oleomargarine  or  lard . . 

1  lb.  cheese 

14  qts.  milk 

Vegetables 

2  pks.  potatoes 

2  lbs.  carrots  

4  lbs.  onions 

2  lbs.  cabbage  

2  lbs.  dried  beans 

1  can  tomatoes 


$  .32 
.25 
.75 
.21 
.20 
.27 

.61 
.66 
.18 
.41 
2.10 

1.02 
.08 
.26 
.09 
.23 
.15 


Fruit 

3  qts.  apples 

1/^  doz.  oranges 

V2  doz.  bananas 

^2  lb.  raisins 

1  lb.    prunes 

Bread,  Cereals,  etc. 
12  lbs.  bread 


lbs.  flour 

lb.  cornmeal  .  . 
lb.  macaroni  .  . 
lbs.  rolled  oats, 
pkg.  cornflakes 
lb.  tapioca  .  . 


2 
1 
1 

2 
1 

V2 

3  lbs.  sugar 

1  pt.  molasses  .  .  . 
Tea,  Coffee,  etc. 

%  lb.  tea 

^2  lb.  coffee 

V2  lb.  cocoa 

Condiments 


Total  weekly  cost $12.15 


The  more  liberal  food  budget,  covering  a  week's  supply  for  five 
persons,  worked  out  in  co-operation  with  the  visiting  housekeeper  of 
the  League  for  Community  Welfare  of  Fall  River  and  given  in  Table 
2,  was  planned  so  as  to  include  foods  in  i)articular  demand  among 
wage-earning  families.  From  this  it  appears  that  to  feed  such  a 
family  according  to  a  standard  somewhat  above  the  minimum,  ^12.15 
a  week  would  be  re(iuired. 

These  food  budgets  have  been  arranged  with  due  consideration  for 
food  values  and  variety,  although,  of  course,  the  tastes  of  many  fami- 
lies might  require  a  somewhat  different  combination  of  articles. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  j)robable  that  an  adequate  supply  of  food  for  an 
average  family  of  five  could  be  purchased  in  Fall  River  in  October, 
1919,  for  $11  per  week,  while  $12.15  is  sufficient  to  insure  a  somewhat 
more  liberal  diet.    This  would  mean  an  annual  expenditure  for  food 


63 

of  $572  for  the  uiiniinuni  standard  and  $G31.S0  for  the  more  liberal 
standard. 

Shelter. — For  information  as  to  rents,  the  social  agencies  of  Fall 
River,  the  Real  Estate  Owners'  Association,  the  Renting  Department 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  individual  renting  agencies  and  land- 
lords were  consulted.    A  number  of  rented  houses  also  were  visited. 

The  ordinary  tenement  in  Fall  River  contains  from  three  to  live 
rooms  with  toilet,  and  the  i-ents  range  from  -SI. 2.')  to  $4  j)er  week. 
For  the  larger  sum,  a  bath  would  be  included.  There  are  very  few 
heated  apartment-houses,  and  rents  for  these  would  be  more  than  .f20 
a  month.  The  majority  of  wage-earners  probably  ])ay  between  '^l.lTt 
and  |o  per  week  and  do  not  have  a  bath.  The  demand  for  the  larger 
apartments  with  baths  far  exceeds  the  supply.  Many  families  are 
forced  to  live  in  inferior  and  crowded  quarters  at  the  present  time 
because  no  others  are  to  be  obtained. 

Two  dollars  twenty-five  cents  a  week  or  $111  a  year  for  four  rooms 
and  toilet  may  be  set  as  a  minimum  figure  for  housing  a  family  of 
five  in  Fall  Kiver,  according  to  existing  conditions.  Three  dollars 
fifty  cents  a  week  or  ^182  a  year  will  secure  somewhat  better  accom- 
modations. 

Clothing. — To  obtain  the  cost  of  clothing  for  a  family  of  five,  bud- 
gets were  constructed  containing  the  different  articles  which  prob- 
ably would  be  purchased  in  the  course  of  a  year  and  prices  were  col- 
lected from  a  number  of  stores  which  cater  to  wage-earners.  Quota- 
tions were  secured  for  comparatively  low-priced  but  standard  grades 
of  goods  and  these  were  averaged  to  obtain  the  prices  given  in  Table 
3.  In  deciding  on  the  quantity  of  each  article  required,  the  quality 
of  the  goods  was  taken  into  account.  In  the  case  of  articles  which 
would  not  necessarily  be  replaced  every  year,  what  was  considered 
to  be  a  proper  fraction  of  the  cost  in  October,  1919,  is  given. 


Gi 


TABLE  3— COST  OF  A  LIBERAL  ALLOWANCE  OF  CLOTHING  FOR  A  YEAR. 

(National  Industrial  Conference  Board) 


Man's  budget. 


Cost, 

October, 

1919. 


Woman's  budget. 


Cost, 

October, 

1919. 


1  suit 

%  overcoat  

1  pair  heavy  trousers 
Vz  sweater 

2  ahirts 

3  work  shirts 

3  pairs  overalls 

2  pairs  shoes 

Repair  of  shoes 

8  pairs  hose 

3  union  suits 

2  nightshirts 

4  collars 

3  ties 

1/2  felt  hat 

Straw  hat  

Cap 

Gloves  

Sundries 

All  items 


$28.00 
7.50 
6.00 
2.50 
3.50 
3.50 
5.65 
15.75 
3.35 
4.00 
3.90 
2.80 
1.00 
1.50 
1.75 
2.00 
1.25 
2.25 
3.00 

$99.20 


1  coat  or  suit  .  . 
V2  dress 

1  cotton  skirt  .  . 

2  waists 

2  house  dresses 

3  aprons  

1%  pairs  shoes  . 
1  pair  overshoes 
Repair  of  shoes  , 
6  pairs  hose    . . . 

pairs  corsets  . 

union  suits  .  . 

chemises  .  .  .. 

petticoats 

nightgowns  .  . 

straw  hat  .  .  . 

velvet  hat  .  .  .. 

Gloves  

Sundries 


$26.00 
5.25 
1.98 
3.60 
4.25 
1.90 
12.95 
.95 
2.35 
3.00 
4.65 
4.00 
2.00 
2.00 
4.50 
1.75 
2.00 
3.00 
4.00 


All   items 1  $91.13 


CHILDREN'S  BUDGETS. 


Cost, 

Boy                  Oct., 

Age  13-14             1919. 

Cost, 

Boy                  Oct., 

Age   5-6.              1919. 

Girl. 
Age   8-9. 

Cost, 
Oct., 
1919. 

Va  mackinaw 

$3.20 
1.20 

12.75 
2.25 
3.00 
3.50 
3.00 
3.35 
8.00 
.95 
.40 
1.50 
1.00 
2.40 
1.25 

Vb  coat 

Vi  sweater 

$2.60 
1.15 
8.65 
1.80 
2.75 
3.65 
1.85 
2.35 
2.40 
5.40 

.75 

.40 
1.80 

.40 
1.65 

.50 

Vs  coat 

Vs  sweater 

1  wool  dress 

2  cotton   dresses. . . 

1  white  petticoat. .. 

2  pairs   bloomers  — 

3  union  suits 

3  underwaists 

2  nightgowns 

6  pairs  stockings  .   . 

2  pairs  boots 

1  pair  overshoes  .   . 

1  pair  mittens 

1  felt  hat 

1  straw  hat 

Repair  of  shoes. . . . 
Sundries 

All  items 

$3.40 
2.00 

1  suit 

1  suit 

1  pair   trousers 

3  blouses 

3  union  suits 

3  underwaists 

2  nightgowns 

6  pairs   stocking 

2  pairs  boots  

1  pair   overshoes 

1  pair  mittens 

2  caps  

1  Windsor  tie 

Repair  of  shoes. . . . 
Sundries 

8.00 

1  pair  trousers  .... 

3  shirts 

3  union  suits 

2  nightshirts 

8  pairs  stockings  ... 

2  pairs  boots 

1  pair  overshoes  .   . 

1  pair  mittens 

2  caps  

3  ties 

Repair  of  shoes. .  . . 
Sundries 

5.00 
1.50 
1.30 
2.75 
1.89 
2.50 
2.58 
8.00 
.80 
.40 
2.00 
1.80 
1.65 

All  items 

.50 

$47.75 

$38.10 

$46.07 

65 

This  clothing  allowance  for  a  family  of  five  iiersons  would  cost 
$322.25  a  year  at  prices  prevailing  in  Fall  Kiver  in  October,  1919. 
While  the  prices  given  are  comparatively  low  and  the  quality  allowed 
is  not  excessive,  clothing  may  be  purchased  for  less  and  the  re<}uire- 
ments  of  decency  and  comfort  at  an  American  standard  may  be  met 
with  fewer  articles.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  a  large  projjortion  of  fami- 
lies in  Fall  Kiver  do  not  spend  so  much  as  this  for  clothing,  since 
many  of  them  make  certain  garments  at  home  or  buy  them  at  bar- 
sain  prices,  with  a  material  reduction  in  cost.  For  this  reason,  the 
clothing  budget  as  given  mu>st  be  regarded  as  ample  rather  than  as 
a  minimum.  To  allow  for  the  different  means  by  which  the  cost  of 
clothing  may  be  reduced,  approximately  25  per  cent  was  deducted, 
bringing  the  annual  minimum  cost  of  an  American  standard  of  cloth- 
ing in  Fall  River,  according  to  prices  prevailing  in  October,  1911),  to 
1243.36. 

Fuel,  heat  and  light. — The  average  wage-earning  family  in  Fall 
River  burns  about  three  tons  of  coal  per  season.  This  provides  fuel 
for  a  kitchen  range  and  usually  for  one  other  stove.  Prices  of  coal 
(}Uoted  by  three  dealers  were  as  follows:  <'hestnut,  |13.75,  l$13.75, 
113.00;  stove,  |14.00,  |14.00,  |12.75. 

This  means  an  average  annual  expenditure  of  approximately 
140.63  for  the  grade  of  coal  generally  bought. 

Many  families,  however,  buy  their  coal  in  small  lots  from  the 
neighborhood  stores,  which  would  make  the  total  annual  cost  of  fuel 
somewhat  higher,  provided  the  same  amount  were  purchased.  For 
this  reason,  and  to  allow  for  a  minimum  amount  of  kindling  wood, 
it  has  been  estimated  that  at  least  $45  per  year  would  be  required 
for  fuel  at  the  prices  prevailing  in  October,  1919. 

Gas  is  commonly  used  for  lighting.  The  local  gas  company  re- 
ported that  there  were  27,236  meters  in  use  in  the  city,  or  one  meter 
to  every  4.5  persons.  A  gas  stove  is  in  practically  every  wage- 
earner's  home.  The  present  price  of  gas  is  $1.05  net  per  thousand 
cubic  feet.  The  average  monthly  gas  bill  for  wage-earners  is  said  by 
the  company  to  be  about  $1.90  net.  Electricity  is  burned  for  lighting 
purposes  in  many  of  the  newer  tenements  even  when  the  rent  is  low, 
and  the  average  bill  for  wage-earners  for  electricity  is  about  $1  per 
month.  In  recognition  of  the  fact  that  some  families  bum  gas  for 
cooking  only  and  have  an  additional  expenditure  for  electric  light, 
the  yearly  cost  of  gas  and  electricity  together  is  estimated  at  $25.20 
in  1919. 

The  average  annual  cost  of  fuel,  heat  and  light  combined  in  Fall 
River  at  prices  prevailing  iu  October,  1919,  may  therefore  be  placed 


66 

at  f70.20,  or  ^l..T)  per  week.  For  families  having  larger  homes  the 
cost  of  these  items  would  be  somewhat  greater.  To  allow  for  this, 
the  expenditure  for  fuel,  heat  and  light  has  been  increased  somewhat 
in  the  more  liberal  budget,  making  the  annual  cost  of  this  item 
1:84.25,  or  |!l.G2  per  week. 

Sundries. — From  information  received  from  the  local  street  rail 
way  company,  it  appears  that  not  over  25  ])er  cent  of  the  mill  opera- 
tives use  the  street  cars  in  going  to  and  from  work.  The  single  fare 
is  10  cents,  but  a  commutation  ticket  plan  was  put  into  operation  in 
September,  V.)V.\,  by  which  50  rides  could  be  obtained  for  .f3,  provided 
the  ticket  was  used  within  a  month.  It  has  been  found,  however,  that 
many  of  the  more  poorly  paid  wage-earners  are  not  able  to  si)end  |o 
at  one  time  for  car  tickets  and  the  street-car  company  reported  that, 
in  practice,  the  tickets  were  sold  mainly  to  those  earning  above  |25 
a  week.  Some  of  the  mills  have  now  arranged  to  sell  the  |3  tickets 
to  their  employees  on  the  instalment  plan. 

The  chief  form  of  amusement  in  Fall  River  is  moving  pictures. 
There  are  a  dozen  houses  in  the  city  to  which  admission  is  usually  15 
cents,  or  17  cents  with  the  war  tax.  Children  are  admitted  to  the 
smaller  houses  on  Saturday  afternoons  for  six  cents.  The  patronage 
is  large.  One  or  two  of  the  theaters  frequently  offer  vaudeville  shows 
and  plays  for  which  prices  of  admission  range  as  high  as  |2.  There 
are  also  a  number  of  public  dance  halls,  to  which  admission  is  25 
cents. 

Doctors'  fees,  by  recent  vote  of  the  local  nu'dical  society,  are  .f2  for 
an  ofKce  call  and  |3  for  a  house  visit. 

Almost  all  wage-earners  in  Fall  River  carry  burial  or  life  insur- 
ance, and  the  insurance  business  is  said  to  be  thriving.  The  Philan- 
thro})ic  Burial  Society  alone,  a  local  organization  which  has  extended 
its  activities  to  New  Bedford  and  elsewhere,  has  a  membership  of 
30,000  in  Fall  River.  This  society  i)ays  a  funeral  benefit  of  |125  in 
return  for  monthly  dues  of  15  cents  to  30  cents.  It  was  the  belief  of 
the  secretary  of  the  society  that  most  of  its  policy-holders  were  in- 
sured in  other  organizations  also.  The  Metropolitan  and  Prudential 
Life  Insurance  (companies  have  offices  in  Fall  River,  and  together 
they  insure  75,000  j^ei-sons.  Their  policy-holders  make  payments 
averaging  about  10  cents  per  week.  In  addition.  Fall  River  has  73 
.lodges  of  various  fraternal  organizations  for  men,  many  of  which  pro- 
vide insurance  benefits  for  their  numbers.  Many  of  the  mills  are  re- 
ported to  be  carrying  life  insurance  policies  for  their  employees 
valued  at  from  $500  to  flOOO.  A  contributory  system  of  cash  bene- 
fits for  sickness  also  obtains  in  some  of  the  mills. 


67 


The  price  of  daily  newspapers,  French  and  English,  is  two  cents, 
and  the  Boston  Sunday  paper,  which  is  extensively  read,  is  seven 
cents. 

A  considerable  proportion  of  the  amount  spent  for  sundries  appar- 
ently goes  to  the  suj)port  of  the  church.  The  city  is  about  80  per  cent 
Roman  Catholic.  There  are  a  large  number  of  Koman  Catholic 
churches,  17  parochial  elementary  schools,  a  Koman  ('atholic  acad- 
emy and  a  Roman  Catholic  commercial  school.  These  schools  are 
maintained  chiefly  by  the  French  and  Irish.  The  French  parochial 
schools  require  a  payment  of  50  cents  per  month  per  child  and  the 
child  furnishes  his  own  books.  The  Irish  Roman  Catholic  schools, 
on  the  other  hand,  are  supported  through  contributions  to  the  church 
itself  and  tuition  and  books  are  free  to  any  child  in  the  parish. 
While,  of  course,  public  schools  are  provided  in  the  city,  about  one- 
third  of  the  children  attend  the  parochial  schools. 

It  is  practically  impossible  to  estimate  the  amount  spent  for  each 
separate  item  in  the  sundries  group,  but  in  Table  4  is  given  an  ap 
proximation  of  expenses  in  this  division  of  the  budget.  Since  ex- 
penditures for  sundries  vary  widely  as  between  different  families,  the 
total  allowed  may  be  spent  in  a  large  variety  of  ways.  It  is  believed, 
however,  that  |5.10  per  week,  |265.20  per  year,  for  the  minimum 
budget  is  sufficient ;  the  more  liberal  allowance  is  |6.80  per  week  or 
P53.60  per  year. 

TABLE  4— AVERAGE  COST  OF  SUNDRIES. 


Minimum 

standard 

More  liberal  standard 

Item 

Average 

weekly 

cost 

Average 
yearly 
cost 

Average 

weekly 

cost 

Average 
yearly 
cost 

Carfare: 
To  work 

$  .30 
.20 
.55 
.60 
.70 

1.00 
.45 
.20 

1.00 
.10 

$  15.60 
10.40 
28.60 
31.20 
36.40 
52.00 
23.40 
10.40 
52.00 
5.20 

$  .30 
.30 

1.00 
.65 
.90 

1.40 
.60 
.25 

1.10 
.30 

$  15.60 

For  shopping  and  recreation 

Movies  and  other  entertainments 

Medical    care 

15.60 
52.00 
33.80 

Insurance   

46.80 

Church  and  parochial  schools 

72.80 

Candv    tobacco    etc 

31.20 

Reading    material 

13.00 

Household  furnishings  and  supplies 

Organizations     

57.20 
15.60 

All   sundries 

$5.10 

$265.20 

$6.80 

$353  60 

68 

The  Completi:  Buugkt, 

In  Table  5  have  been  combined  the  figures  given  for  the  cost  of  a 
year's  allowance  of  each  of  the  separate  items  entering  into  the  aver- 
age family  budget.  From  this  it  appears  that  at  least  $1,267,76  per 
year  is  necessary  to  maintain  a  family  of  five  persons  at  an  American 
standard  of  living  in  Fall  Kiver,  Mass.,  on  the  basis  of  prices  pre 
vailing  in  October,  1019.  This  would  require  an  income  of  $24.38 
per  week  the  year  round. 

In  order  to  maintain  life  at  somewhat  more  comfortable  stand- 
ard, through  allowing  for  slightly  more  liberal  expenditures, 
|1,.^7:{.1M)  j)er  year  will  be  necessary,  or  a  steady  income  of  $.30.27  per 
week. 

In  neither  of  these  estimates  is  any  provision  made  for  savings 
other  than  insurance.  It  should  be  noted,  however,  that  while  allow- 
ance has  been  made  in  the  budget  for  medical  care,  recreation  and  in- 
surance, these  are  to  a  certain  exent  jirovided  free  if  oj)eratives  care 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  facilities  oftered.  Thus,  life  insurance  pre- 
miums are  paid  by  man}-  of  the  mills;  social  activities  are  supported 
by  a  few  and  a  nursing  service  by  some.  Although  allowance  for 
parochial  schools  is  included  in  the  budget,  there  are  good  public 
schools  available  in  the  city  without  cost.  Taking  these  circum- 
stances into  account,  the  estimates  of  the  sums  needed  to  maintain 
an  American  standard  of  living  in  Fall  River  in  October,  1919,  are 
as  rei)resentative  as  any  which  can  be  reached. 

These  sums  provide  for  the  maintenance  of  a  family  of  five  at  an 
American  standard  of  living,  where  the  father  is  the  sole  wage 
earner.  It  should  be  recognized,  however,  that  the  foreign  families 
are  frequently  larger  and  that  in  many  of  them  there  are  several 
wage-earners.  Their  standard  of  living,  on  the  other  hand,  is  intrin- 
sically lower.     *     *     » 


GO 


TABLE  5~AVERAGE  COST  OF  LIVING  FOR  A  MAN.  WIFE  AND  THREE 
CHILDREN  UNDER  P^OURTEEN  YEARS  OF  AGE  IN  FALL  RIVER. 
MASSACHUSETTS.  OCTOBER,  1919. 


Budget  item 


Minimum  standard 


Average  [   Average 


weekly 
cost 


yearly 
cost 


More  liberal  standard 


Average 

weekly 

cost 


Average 
yearly 
cost 


Food  

Shelter   

Clothing    

Fuel,  heat  and  light 
Sundries    

All  items. . . 


$11.00 
2.25 
4.68 
1.35 
5.10 


572.00 
117.00 
243.36 
70.20 
365.20 


$24.38 


$1,267.76 


$12.15 
3.50 
6.20 
1.62 
6.80 


$30.27 


631.80 
182.00 
322.25 
84.25 
353.60 


$1,573.90 


70 


VI 

COST  OF  LIVING  AMONG  WAGE-EARNERS  IN  LAWRENCE, 
MASSACHUSETTS,  NOVEMBER,  1919 

Study  Made  by  the  National  Industrial  Conference  Board. 

The  full  report  iras  published  hij  the  Xational  Industrial  Confer- 
ence Board,  Boaton,  Massachusetts,  as  Research  Report  Nmnher  24. 
The  folloicing  is  an  almost  complete  extract  of  the  portions  of  tJie 
repart  dealimj  with  the  quantity  hudfjet  and  its  cost  in  October, 
1919: 

The  investigation  of  the  cost  of  living  in  Lawrence,  Mass.,  in  No- 
vember, 1919,  on  which  this  report  is  based,  was  undertaken  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  cost  of  maintaining  a  minimum  but  rea- 
sonable standard  of  living  for  a  representative  wage-earner's  family, 
and  the  cost  of  maintaining  a  somewhat  better  standard,  according 
to  conditions  actually  existing  in  Lawrence.     *     ♦     * 

As  in  the  case  of  a  similar  study  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  no  attempt 
was  made  to  collect  family  budgets.  Instead,  the  standard  budgets 
which  were  developed  for  the  Fall  River  survey,  designed  to  cover 
the  needs  of  a  man,  his  wife  and  three  children  under  14  years  of 
age,  were  again  used.  These  were  based  on  the  conclusions  reachetl 
from  careful  examination  of  budgetary  studies  of  wage-earner's 
households  made  by  competent  agencies,  and  are  representative  of 
the  needs  of  industrial  workers  in  most  American  communities. 
With  these  lists  as  a  guide,  prices  of  food,  clothing,  shelter,  fuel, 
heat,  light  and  sundries  were  then  collected  in  Lawrence. 

A  number  of  social  and  community  organizations,  which  were  able 
to  furnish  information  regarding  general  living  conditions  in  the 
city,  were  also  consulted.  In  addition,  a  group  of  35  operatives  in 
one  of  the  mills  gave  much  valuable  information  regarding  their  own 
actual  family  expenses.  The  data  thus  furnished  were  used  to  cor- 
rect and  check  the  basic  budgets  and,  particularly  in  the  case  of 
rents,  to  supplement  figures  obtained  from  other  sources.     *     *     * 


71 


Food. — The  two  food  budjjcts  uso<l  in  this  study  arc  the  same  willi 
respect  to  quality  and  (juantity  as  were  used  in  I'^all  liivci-.  The  lirst, 
given  ill  Table  1,  represents  the  ininiinuin  leciuiieincnts ;  the  second, 
in  Table  2,  permits  of  a  more  varied  diet. 

TABLE  1— MINIMUM  FOOD  BUDGET  FOR  A  WEEK. 


Item  and  amount. 

Cost, 

November, 
1919. 

Item  and  amount. 

Cost, 

November, 

1919. 

Meat   and  Fish 

2  lbs.  flank  

2  lbs.  chuck 

V-'  lb.  bacon 

$  .30 
.48 
.21 
.30 
.23 

.62 
.68 
.19 
.43 
2.38 

.75 
.14 
.12 
.12 
.21 
.17 

Fruit 

3  qts.  apples 

3  oranges- 

4  bananas  

Vz    lb.    raisins 

$  .34 
.11 

.12 

1  lb    dried  cod  

.14 

1  can   salmon   

1  lb.  prunes   

l$read,  Cereals,  etc 
12  lbs   bread 

.29 

Dairy  Products 

1  doz.  eggs 

1  lb.  butter 

V2  lb.  oleomargarine  or  lard. 
1  lb    cheese 

1.24 

2  lbs.  flour 

1  lb   cornmea! 

.17 

.07       • 

1  lb.  rice 

.18 

14  ats    milk 

1  lb.  macaroni  

.19 

Vegetables 

IVo    nks    notafoes 

3  lbs    rolled   oats .*. . 

.21 

3  lbs.  sugar 

.33 

3  lbs.  carrots  

2  lbs.  onions 

3  lbs.  cabbage 

2  lbs    dried    beans 

1  pt.  molasses 

Tea,  Coffee,  etc 

1/4  lb.  tea 

V2  lb.  coffee 

.15 

.12 
.22 

1  can  tomatoes 

Vz  lb.  cocoa 

Condiments 

Total  weekly  cost 

.22 
.12 

$11.55 

Prices  for  the  various  articles  in  these  two  food  budgets  were  col- 
lected from  retail  dealers  in  Lawrence.  In  all,  figures  were  furnished 
by  four  down-town  stores;  by  one  branch  of  a  chain  store  having 
eight  other  branches  in  Lawrence,  and  by  seven  neighborhood  stores, 
of  which  two  were  Italian,  two  (Jerinmi,  one  English,  one  French, 
and  one  I*olish.  When  there  was  more  than  one  <iuality  of  an  article 
the  quotation  used  was  the  lowest  consistent  with  what  appeared  to 
be  good  value.  Prices  of  bulk  goods  were  used  in  preference  to  i)rice8 
of  package  goods  where  this  was  jwssible,  but  in  some  instances,  par- 
ticularly in  the  smaller  neighborhood  stores,  certain  articles  were 
obtainable  only  in  i)ackages.  Prices  for  package  goods  were  usually 
higher  than  for  goods  sold  in  bulk. 


72 


TABLE  2— MORE   LIBERAL   WEEKLY   FOOD  BUDGET. 


Item  and  amount. 

Cost, 

November, 

1919. 

Item  and  amount. 

Cost, 

November, 

1919. 

Moat  and  Fish 

2  lb.  flanks 

1  lb.  hamburg 

$  .30 

.26 
.75 
.21 
.30 
.23 

.62 
.68 
.19 
.43 
2.38 

1.00 
.10 
.24 
.08 
.21 
.17 

Fruits 

3  qts.  apples 

V2  doz.  oranges  

$  .34 
.22 

3  lbs.   leg   mutton 

%  doz.  bananas  

.18 

V2    lb.    bacon 

V2  lb.  raisins 

.14 

1  lb.  dried  cod 

1  lb.  prunes  

Kread,   Cereals,  etc. 

12  lbs.  bread 

.29 

1  can  salmon 

Dairy  Prodncts 

1.24 

1  doz.  eggs 

2  lbs.  flour 

1  lb.  cornmeal 

1  lb.  macaroni 

2  lbs.  rolled  oats 

17 

1  lb.  butter 

.07 

M:  lb.  oleomargarine  or  lard. 
1  lb.   cheese   

.19 
.14 

14  qts.  milk 

1  pkg.  cornflakes  

.14 

Vegetables 

2  pks.  potatoes  

2  lbs.  carrots  

Vz  lb.  tapioca 

3  lbs.  sugar 

1  pt.  molasses 

Tea,  Coffee,  etc. 
14  lb.  tea 

.08 
.33 
.15 

4  lbs.  onions 

2  lbs.  cabbage 

.12 

2  lbs.  dried  beans 

Vz  lb.  coffee 

.22 

1  can  tomatoes 

• 

V2  lb.  cocoa 

Condiments 

Total  weekly  cost 

.22 
.16 

$12.55 

The  articles  of  food  actually  purchased  by  different  families  vary 
widely,  of  course,  owing  to  differences  in  customs  and  tastes,  and  it 
is  obviously  impossible  to  construct  budgets  which  would  be  univer- 
sally applicable.  The  best  that  can  be  done  in  the  case  of  a  minimum 
standard,  therefore,  is  to  insure  a  sufficient  and  balanced  diet,  per- 
mitting of  reasonable  variety.  The  weekly  allowance  of  |11.55  for 
the  minimum  budget  means  that  fGOO.GO  a  year  would  be  required 
for  food  for  a  family  of  man,  wife,  and  three  children  under  14  years 
of  age;  for  |12.55  a  week,  or  1652.60  a  year,  a  somewhat  more  liberal 
diet  could  be  secured. 

Shelter. — Information  as  to  the  cost  of  shelter  was  secured  from 
the  social  organizations  of  Lawrence  and  from  several  renting  agen- 
cies. One  mill  had  a  record  of  the  rents  paid  by  85  of  its  employees 
in  April  and  October,  1911),  which  was  available  for  use  in  connec- 
tion with  this  study.  The  mill  operatives  who  were  consulted  by  an 
agent  of  the  Board  gave  figures  as  to  their  own  expenditures  for  shel- 
ter. Visits  were  paid  to  the  different  sections  of  the  city  to  obtain 
first-hand  information  regarding  living  conditions,  and  in  several  in- 
stances oj)portunity  was  afforded  for  inspection  of  the  interior  of 
rented  houses. 


73 

The  majority  of  mill  operatives  in  Lawrence  live  iu  two-story  or 
three-story  frame  tenements,  althou{]jh  in  the  crowded  down-town 
section  the  houses  are  larger.  There  Is  a  great  scarcity  of  houses  of 
all  kinds  and  at  best  there  are  very  few  cottages  or  heated  apart- 
ments for  wage-earners.  The  average  tenement  consists  of  four  or 
five  rooms,  unheated,  with  gas  and  toilet  or  bath.  Rents  range  from 
$2.50  to  |5  a  week.  Three  dollars  fifty  cents  a  week,  or  |182  a  year, 
is  the  least  that  should  be  allowed  in  November  for  a  tenement  in 
ordinary  repair.  For  this  sum  four  or  five  rooms  with  gas  could  be 
secured.  There  would  probably  not  be  a  bath.  For  a  somewhat  bet- 
ter tenement  of  five  rooms  and  bath  |4.50  a  week,  or  $234  a  year, 
would  be  required. 

Clothing.— The  basic  clothing  budgets  which  were  constructed  for 
use  in  Fall  River  were  also  used  in  the  Lawrence  survey.  These  in- 
clude the  requirements  of  a  man,  his  wife  and  three  children,  the  ages 
of  the  latter  being  arbitrarily  assigned  for  pui*poses  of  this  study. 
Prices  of  a  large  number  of  articles  of  wearing  apparel  and  yard 
goods  were  then  collected  from  representative  stores.  Four  depart- 
ment stores,  five  men's  clothing  stores,  one  women's  specialty  shop, 
one  children's  specialty  shop  and  three  shoe  stores  furnished  quota 
tions.  In  the  minimum  budget,  shown  in  Table  3,  averages  of  the 
lowest  prices  for  full  stocks  were  used.  The  cost  of  a  number  of  arti- 
cles was  computed  on  the  basis  of  the  amount  of  yard  goods  and 
other  materials  required  to  make  them'.  When  an  article  would  not 
necessarily  be  replaced  every  year,  a  suitable  proportion  of  its  cost 
in  November,  1919,  was  used. 


74 


TABLE  3— COST  OF  A  MINIMUM  ALLOWANCE  OF  CLOTHING  FOR  A  YEAR. 


Man's  budget. 


1  suit 

%  overcoat  

1  pair  heavy  trousers. 
^/^  sweater 

2  shirts , 

3  work  shirts 

3  pairs  overalls 

2  pairs  shoes 

Repair  of  shoes 

8  pairs  stockings  .  .  .. 

3  union  suits  . , 

2  night  shirts 

4  collars 

3  ties 

%  felt  hat    

1  straw  hat  

1  cap 

Gloves  

Sundries 


Woman's  budget. 


All  items I     $87.10 


1  coat  or  suit  

%   dress    (material) 

1  cotton  skirt 

2  waists 

2  house  dresses    (material) 

3  aprons    (material) 

1%  pairs  shoes 

1  pair  overshoes  

Repair  of  shoes , 

6  pairs  stockings , 

2  pairs  corsets  

4  union  suits 

3  chemises   (material)    .  ... 

2  petticoats  (material  for  1) 

3  nightgowns   (material)   .  ., 

1  straw  hat 

1  velvet  hat 

Gloves  

Sundries 

All  items 


Cost. 

November, 

1919. 


$25.00 
4.00 
1.00 
2.50 
3.00 
1.40 
8.00 
.85 
3.00 
1.45 
3.30 
3.90 
2.25 
1.95 
2.90 
1.98 
1.98 
2.75 
4.00 

$75.21 


CHILDREN'S    BUDGETS. 


Cost, 

• 

Cost, 

Cost, 

Boy 

Nov., 

Boy 

Nov., 

Girl 

Nov., 

Age  13-14 

1919 

Age  5-6 

1919 

Age  8-9 

1919 

%  mackinaw    

$2.50 

Vs  coat   

$2.25 
1.00 

1 

'^  coat   

$3.00 

%  sweater   

1.00 

%  sweater   

Vs  sweater   

1.25 

1  suit  

8.00 
1.50 

suit  

5.00 
1.25 

1  wool  dress 

(material)   

1  pair  trousers 

1  pair  trousers 

6.00 

3  shirts    

1.60 

3  blouses  . 

1.31 

cotton  dresses. . . 
(material)   

(material)   

(material)   

2.61 

3  union  suits 

2.50 

3  union  suits 

2.50 

white  petticoat.. . 

2  night  shirts 

3  underwaists    

1.40 

(material)   

.50 

(material)   

1.92 

I2  night  gowns 

pairs  bloomers 

8  pairs  stockings. . . 

3.20 

(material)   

1.28 

(material)    

.93 

2  pairs  shoes 

7.50 

6  pairs   stockings.. . 

2.20 

union  suits 

2.50 

Repair  of  shoes 

2.40 

2  pairs  shoes 

6.50 

underwaists  

1.50 

1  pair  overshoes 

.95 

Repair  of  shoes 

1.65 

night  gowns 

1  pair  mittens 

.50 

1  pair  overshoes 

.70 

(material)   

1.50 

2  caps  

175 

1  pair  mittens 

'2  caps       

40 

pairs  stockings... 

2.10 

3  ties  

1.25 
1.00 

1.40 
.45 

£  pairs  shoes 

Repair  of  shoes 

7.50 

Sundries  

1  Windsor  tie 

1.65 

Sundries  

.50 

pair  overshoes  — 
pair  mittens 

.75 

.40 

3  felt  hat   

1.75 

1  straw  hat 

1.50 

All  items 

Sundries  

.50 

All  items 

All  items 

$37.57 

$29.79 

$35.94 

75 


TABLE  4— COST  OF  A  MORE  LIBERAL  ALLOWANCE  OF  CLOTHING 

FOR   A    YEAR. 


Man's  budget. 


Cost, 

November, 

1919. 


Woman's  budget. 


Cost, 

November, 

1919. 


1  suit   

%  overcoat  

1  pair  heavy  trousers. 
i'2  sweater 

2  shirts 

3  work  shirts 

3  pairs  overalls 

2  pairs  shoes  .  .    

Repair  of  shoes 

S  pairs  stockings  .  .   . . 

3  union  suits 

2  night  shirts 

4  collars 

3  ties 

¥2  felt  hat  

1  straw  hat 

1  cap  

Gloves  

Sundries 


$30.00 
9.25 
7.00 
2.50 
4.50 
4.50 
7.00 
20.00 
3.90 
2.00 
4.50 
3.50 
1.00 
1.50 
2.00 
2.00 
1.65 
2.50 
3.00 


All  item  I  $112.30 


1  coat  or  suit. . . 
V2  dress 

1  cotton  skirt  .  . 

2  waists 

2  house  dresses  . 

3  aprons  

1%  pairs  shoes  .  . 

1  pair  overshoes  . 
Repair  of  shoes  . 
6  pairs  stockings 

2  pairs  corsets  . 

4  union  suits  .  .  .. 

3  chemises 

2  petticoats  .  .  .. 

3  nightgowns  .  .  .. 
1  straw  hat  .  .  . 
1  velvet  hat  .  .  . . 

Gloves  

Sundries 


All   items. 


$26.00 
5.00 
1.75 
4.00 
4.25 
2.50 
13.00 
.85 
2.80 
3.50 
4.00 
5.00 
4.25 
2.75 
4.75 
1.98 
1.98 
3.25 
4.00 

$95.61 


CHILDREN'S    BUDGETS. 


Boy 
Age  13-14 

Cost, 
Nov., 
1919 

Boy 
Age  5-6 

Cost, 
Nov., 
1919 

Girl 
Age  8-9 

Cost, 
Nov., 
1919 

%  mackinaw 

$3.25 

1.50 

12.50 

2.00 

3.45 

3.50 

2.00 

3.60 

!  12.00 

2.40  1 

.95 

.50 

1.75 

%  coat  

$2.40 

1.20 

6.50 

1.25 

2.85 

3.00 

1.50 

2.00 

2.40  ! 

7.00  ' 

1.65 

.70 

.45 

1.60 

.45 

.50 

%  coat    

$3.50 

Vs  sweater  

1  suit    

Vs  sweater    

1  suit         

%  sweater   

1  wool  dress 

2  cotton  dresses. . . 

1  white  petticoat. . 

2  pairs  bloomers — 

3  union  suits 

underwaists  

2  night    gowns 

6  pairs  stockings. . . 

2  pairs   shoes 

Repair  of  shoes. . . . 
1  pair   overshoes. . . 

1  pair   mittens 

1  felt  hat 

1.55 
7.00 

1  pair    trousers 

3  shirts    

1  pair    trousers. . . . 
3  blouses  

5.00 
.75 

3  union  suits 

2  night    shirts 

8  pairs   stockings.. . 

2  pair    shoes 

Repair  of  shoes 

1  pair  overshoes  — 

1  pair  mittens 

2  caps  

3  union  suits 

3  underwaists  

2  night  gowns 

6  pairs    stockings.. . 

2  pairs   shoes 

Repair  of  shoes 

1  pair  overshoes 

1  pair   mittens 

1.00 
3.00 
1.60 
2.00 
2.10 
10.35 
1.65 
.75 

3  ties  

1.50 
1.25 

'2  caps  

.50 

Sundries      

1  Windsor  tie 

1.75 

.Sundries  

1  straw  hat 

Sundries    

1.75 

All  items 

.50 

All  items 

All  items . . .' 

$52.15 

$35.45 

$44.75 

76         • 

The  more  liberal  clothing  hiidjiet,  <>;iven  in  Table  4,  contains  arti- 
cles in  most  instances  of  somewhat  better  (luality  than  those  listed 
in  Table  :? ;  the  cost  of  all  articles  was  estimated  according  to  their 
prices  if  bought  ready  made. 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  the  minimum  yearly  allowance  for  cloth- 
ing for  a  family  of  five  persons  in  Lawrence,  at  prices  prevailing  in 
November,  1919,  would  be  f2G5.Gl.  This  requires  that  certain  arti- 
cles of  the  w^oman's  and  children's  clothing  be  made  at  home.  The 
more  liberal  budget,  which  permits  purchasing  all  goods  ready  made, 
would  amount  to  |:U0.2G  a  year.  These  yearly  costs  correspond  to 
average  weekly  expenditures  of  |5.11  and  |G.54,  respectively.  The 
more  liberal  budget  permits  of  considerable  variation  in  expenditure 
for  clothing,  especially  since  many  families  living  at  this  standard 
might  prefer  to  make  a  part  of  the  clothing  at  home,  which  would 
render  possible  a  greater  number  of  articles,  or  articles  of  better 
quality. 

Fuel,  Heat  and  Light. — Families  living  at  a  minimum  standard 
usually  burn  about  three  tons  of  coal  a  year.  The  average  cost  of 
chestnut  and  stove  coal,  as  secured  from  three  dealers  in  November, 
1919,  was  |14  a  ton.  Some  families  at  the  minimum  standard,  how- 
ever, do  not  buy  coal  in  ton  or  half-ton  lots,  but  resort  to  the  more 
expensive  method  of  purchasing  it  in  bags  from  the  neighborhood 
stores. 

The  amount  and  cost  of  kindling  wood  used  varied  widely.  It  was 
sold  at  the  stores  at  the  rate  of  four  or  five  baskets  for  a  dollar,  and 
by  some  of  the  mills  for  materially  less.  To  allow  for  a  minimum 
amount  of  wood  and  to  take  into  consideration  the  fact  that  coal  is 
sometimes  purchased  in  bags,  .f^.SO  has  been  added  to  the  cost  of 
three  tons  of  coal,  thus  setting  140.50  as  a  minimum  annual  expendi 
ture  for  fuel. 

Gas,  which  is  very  generally  used  for  lighting  and  for  a  certain 
amount  of  cooking  as  well,  cost  |1.25  net  per  thousand  cubic  feet  in 
November.  An  average  of  about  |2  a  month  the  year  around  for  gas 
bills  was  reported  by  a  number  of  wage-earners.  Inasmuch  as  fami- 
lies living  at  the  minimum  standard  presumably  burn  less,  and  those 
at  the  more  liberal  standard  burn  more  than  the  average,  the 
monthly  bill  of  the  former  group  has  been  arbitrarily  placed  at  |1.90 
a  month  and  that  of  the  latter  at  .f2.10.  To  these  figures  must  be 
added  an  increase  of  9  per  cent,  effective  in  October,  1919.  An  an 
nual  expenditure  of  |24.84  for  gas  is,  therefore,  given  in  the  minimum 
budget. 

For  more  liberal  standard  of  living,  four  tons  of  coal  a  year  have 


77 

been  allowed,  at  an  annual  cost  of  W>.    Four  dollars  fifty  cents  has 
been  added  for  wood  and  |L'7.48  for  gas. 

According  to  these  figures,  the  average  annual  cost  of  fuel,  heat 
and  light  in  Lawrence,  at  prices  prevailing  in  November,  101!),  was 
$71.34,  or  $1.37  a  week,  for  the  niininium  standard  of  living,  and 
$87.98,  or  $1.69  a  week,  for  the  more  liberal  standard. 

Some  families  prefer  to  burn  wood  in  the  spring  and  autumn  in- 
stead of  coal.  The  fuel  allowance  provided  above  permits  of  the  sub- 
stitution of  half  a  cord  to  a  cord  of  wood  for  coal,  if  desired. 

Sundries.— Of  all  the  divisions  of  the  family  budget,  that  including 
sundries  is  the  most  difticult  for  which  to  determine  standards.  Al- 
though it  is  impossible  to  estimate  accurately  the  amount  necessarily 
spent  for  each  separate  item,  since  the  needs  and  desires  of  individual 
families  vary  very  widely,  a  fair  approximation  may  be  reached. 

From  figures  submitted  by  the  Law^rence  mills  to  the  local  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  it  appears  that  not  over  15  per  cent  of  the  em- 
ployees ride  to  and  from  work.  The  street-car  situation  was  much 
confused  in  November,  1919.  During  the  week  this  investigation  was 
made,  street-car  fares  were  ten  cents  and  jitney  fares  seven  cents, 
and,  as  nearly  as  could  be  ascertained,  each  carried  about  50  per  cent 
of  the  traflic.  At  the  close  of  the  month  jitney  licenses  were  revoked 
and  street-car  fares  were  reduced  to  IG  tickets  for  a  dollar.  This 
arrangement  did  not  meet  with  immediate  success,  however,  and  may 
have  been  only  temporary. 

There  are  a  number  of  motion-picture  houses  in  Lawrence,  to 
which  the  usual  cost  of  admission  is  11  cents  in  the  afternoon  and  17 
cents  in  the  evening.  The  price  of  daily  newspapers  is  two  cents; 
the  Boston  Sunday  paper  is  seven  cents.  Doctors'  fees  are  $2  for  an 
office  call  and  $3  for  a  house  visit. 

There  are  a  great  many  clubs,  societies  and  lodges  in  Lawrence, 
membership  in  which  is  generally  confined  to  nationalistic  groups. 
Nearly  100  lodges  and  over  100  clubs  and  societies  are  listed  in  the 
directory,  but  some  of  these  are  small.  A  considerable  part  of  the 
social  life  of  the  city  is  carried  on  through  these  organizations. 
Some  of  the  lodges  offer  their  members  sick  or  death  benefit  privi- 
leges also. 

A  large  amount  of  burial  insurance  is  carried  by  commercial  life 
insurance  companies.  It  is  estimated  that  about  70  per  cent  of  the 
wage-earners  and  their  famillies  are  insured.  The  average  weekly 
payment  per  policy  is  between  10  cents  and  15  cents.  Some  indi- 
viduals carry  two  or  more  policies,  however,  and  the  actual  number 


78 


of  industrial  policies  as  reported  by  the  leading  insurance  companies 
is  larger  than  the  industrial  ])oi»ulati()n. 

Lawrence  is  preponderantly  Konian  Catholic  and  the  church  is 
well  supported.  About  one-third  of  the  children  attend  jiarochial 
schools.  Jn  some  parishes  the  cost  of  the  schools  is  included  in  the 
"•(Mieral  expenses  of  the  chuich;  in  others  a  j)ayment  of  00  cents  a 
month  jier  child  is  required.  In  addition  to  Roman  Catholic 
churches  there  are  live  churches  of  the  Greek  or  other  P^astern  rites, 
and  l*rotestant  churches  for  Italians,  Germans,  Armenians,  Syrians 
and  Swedes.  In  general,  the  expense  of  supi)orting  these  does  not 
ai)])ear  to  be  so  great  as  that  in  the  Roman  Catholic  parishes. 

Reasonable  average  expenditures  for  these  and  a  few  additional 
items,  according  to  the  best  estimates  available,  are  given  in  Table  5. 
On  the  basis  of  these  estimates  the  necessary  total  allowance  for  sun- 
dries for  the  minimum  standard  amounts  to  |5.12  a  week,  or  $266.24 
a  year.  The  more  liberal  budget  allows  for  |G.60  a  week,  or  |!.343.20 
annually. 

TABLE  5— AVERAGE  COST  OF  SUNDRIES. 


Minimum 

standard 

More  liberal  standard 

Item 

Average 

weekly 

cost 

Average 

yearly 

cost 

Average 

weekly 

cost 

Average 

yearly 

cost 

Transportation: 
To   work 

$  .20 
.20 
.67 
.60 
.70 
.90 
.45 
.20 
1.00 
.20 

$  10.40 
10.40 
34.84 
31.20 
36.40 
46.80 
23.40 
10.40 
52.00 
10.40 

$  .20 
.30 

1.00 
.65 
.90 

1.20 
.60 
.25 

1.10 
.40 

$  10.40 

For  shopping  and  recreation 

Movies  and  other  entertainments 

Medical    care 

15.60 
52.00 
33.80 

Insurance   

46.80 

Church  and  parochial  schools 

62.40 

Candy,  tobacco,  etc 

31.20 

Reading   material 

13.00 

Household  furnishings  and  supplies 

Organizations   

57.20 
20  80 

Total  sundries 

$5.12 

$266.24 

$6.60 

$343.20 

The  Complete  Budget. 


The  average  cost  of  all  items  entering  into  the  family  budget  and 
of  all  items  combined  is  given  in  Table  6.  These  figures  indicate  that 
at  least  |1,. 385.79  a  year  is  necessary  to  maintain  a  family  of  five  at 


79 


a  reasonable  ininiuiiini  standard  in  Lawrence,  according  to  prices 
prevailing  in  November,  1919.  This  reqnires  an  average  weekly 
income  of  ?26.G5  the  year  round.  The  somewhat  higher  standard  of 
living  demands  a  yearly  income  of  |l,r)o8.04,  or  an  average  of  |;.'U.(S,S 
a  week.  It  should  be  noted  that  the  totals  both  in  the  minimum  and 
in  the  more  liberal  budget  make  allowance  only  for  expenditures  and 
do  not  include  provision  for  savings  except  as  this  is  effected  by 
insurance. 

TABLE  6— AVERAGE  COST  OF  LIVING  FOR  A  MAN,  WIFE.  AND  THREE 
CHILDREN  UNDER  14  YEARS  OF  AGE  IN  LAWRENCE,  MASSACHUSETTS, 
NOVEMBER,  1919. 


Minimum  standard 

More  liberal  standard 

Budget  item 

Average  1    Average 

weekly          yearly 

cost             cost 

Average 

weekly 

cost 

Average 

yearly 

cost 

Food    

$11.55        $600.60 
3.50          182.00 

5.11  265.61 
1.37            71.34 

5.12  266.24 

$12.55 
4.50 
6.54 
1.69 
6.60 

$    652.60 

Shelter    

234.00 

Clothing    

340.26 

Fuel,  heat  and  light 

87.98 

Sundries   

343.20 

All  items 

$26.65      $1,385.79 

$31.88 

$1,658.04 

Within  the  total  allowed  for  the  more  liberal  budget,  considerable 
variation  in  the  amount  spent  for  each  separate  item  is  possible,  and 
even  in  the  minimum  budget  a  little  variation  may  be  made.  For 
example,  in  talking  with  mill  operatives  it  developed  that  nuiny  of 
them  preferred  to  buy  better  meats,  such  as  steak  and  chicken,  cut- 
ting down  expenditures  for  such  an  item  as  motion  pictures. 

It  should  be  emphasized,  also,  that  the  estimates  given  for  the 
mininnim  budget  have  been  made  to  meet  the  needs  of  a  family  with 
three  children,  where  the  father  is  assumed  tol)ethesole  wage-eai-ner. 
and  the  mother  is  able  to  do  all  of  the  housework,  including  sewing 
and  laundry.  Many  famillies  in  Lawrence  comj)rise  more  than  three 
children,  and  in  many  of  them  the  mother,  as  well  as  the  father,  is 
at  work.  It  may  be,  also,  that  some  families  in  certain  respects  re- 
quire less  than  the  mininnim  indicated.  But  it  aj)])ears  from  the 
evidence  at  hand  that  tlie  maintenance  of  health  and  strength  can 
scarcely  be  secured  for  less  than  tlie  totals  allowed. 


/ 


If 


'% 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL   BE   ASSESSED    FOR    FAILURE  TO    RETURN 
THIS    BOOK   ON    THE   DATE   DUE.    THE   PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY     AND    TO    $1.00    ON    THE    SEVENTH     DAY 
OVERDUE. 

OCT        O     <qo« 

1=-*' .1          '  .      <9,)0 

■^'^Ai\W 

NO^  V&^^^ 

MKf  9  ^342 

LD  21-95w»  7.'37 

Pamphlet 
Binder 

Gaylord  Bros.,  Inc. 

Makers 
Stockton,  Calif. 

PAT.  IAN.  21.  1908 


78s;^s 


// 


/ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


